As anticipation for a foldable iPhone continues to build, recent reports from industry analysts offer a compelling, albeit speculative, glimpse into what Apple might be planning. With a potential launch as early as late 2026, the device appears poised to address key weaknesses in the current foldable market—namely durability and repairability—while embracing an ultra-thin design ethos. [[1]](https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/21/iphone-fold-design-details-report-pricing-launch-date-more/)[[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/)
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s foldable is expected to feature a book-style design that, when closed, resembles two extremely thin iPhones placed side-by-side. [[1]](https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/21/iphone-fold-design-details-report-pricing-launch-date-more/)[[3]](https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/08/apples-2026-iphone-fold-will-reportedly-support-touch-id-4-cameras-more-while-the-2025-airpods-pro-will-introduce-heart.html) This has led to speculation that Apple’s work on ever-thinner devices, like the M4 iPad Pro (5.1mm), serves as a design experiment for its foldable ambitions. [[4]](https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/09/21/iphone-air-hints-at-what-iphone-fold-will-look-like) Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo offers more specific figures, predicting the device could be a remarkably slim 4.5 to 4.8 mm when unfolded and 9 to 9.5 mm when folded. [[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/) For context, Samsung’s current Galaxy Z Fold 5 measures 6.1 mm unfolded, showcasing the aggressive thinness Apple may be targeting. [[5]](https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Samsung_Galaxy_Fold5)
A cornerstone of this rumored design is the use of a titanium alloy for the casing, similar to the material used in the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. [[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/)[[6]](https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iPhone_15_Pro) This choice is significant for durability, a persistent concern for the foldable category. While some early drop tests of the iPhone 15 Pro suggested its rounded titanium edges could transfer impact to the glass, the material itself is known for its strength-to-weight ratio. [[7]](https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-drop-test/)[[8]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS0SItAzEXg) The hinge, a critical component for any foldable, is rumored to be a robust combination of stainless steel and titanium alloy. [[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/)
Perhaps the most significant differentiator for Apple could be repairability. The foldable market is currently plagued by devices that are both fragile and difficult to fix. For example, some reports on future foldable models, like a hypothetical Galaxy Z Fold 7, suggest they could receive repairability scores as low as 3 out of 10 from teardown experts at iFixit due to excessive adhesive and hard-to-replace components. [[9]](https://www.howtogeek.com/the-galaxy-z-fold-7-is-barely-repairable-says-ifixit/)[[10]](https://sammypolice.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-7-receives-low-repairability-score-from-ifixit-1065/) Even Google’s more modular Pixel 9 Pro Fold has faced criticism for its difficult battery replacement process. [[11]](https://www.phonearena.com/news/pixel-9-pro-fold-passes-repairability-test-thanks-to-modular-design_id162624)[[12]](https://www.gizmochina.com/2024/09/16/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-scores-high-in-repairability-test/)
In contrast, Apple has made strides in the repairability of its standard iPhones. After initially receiving a score of 4 out of 10, the iPhone 15 lineup was later promoted to a 7 out of 10 by iFixit following software updates that eased parts pairing. [[13]](https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/iphone-15-pro-repair-friendly-design-repairability-score-8956495/)[[14]](https://www.phonearena.com/news/iphone-15-models-new-repairability-score_id163595) If Apple could engineer its foldable iPhone to achieve a similar score, it would represent a monumental advantage, offering consumers a device that is not only durable but also more sustainable and easier to maintain.
Beyond the physical design, other details are beginning to emerge. Gurman and Kuo both suggest the device will forgo Face ID in favor of a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button to save internal space. [[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/)[[3]](https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/08/apples-2026-iphone-fold-will-reportedly-support-touch-id-4-cameras-more-while-the-2025-airpods-pro-will-introduce-heart.html) It may also feature up to four cameras: two on the rear, one on the external screen, and one on the inner screen. [[3]](https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/08/apples-2026-iphone-fold-will-reportedly-support-touch-id-4-cameras-more-while-the-2025-airpods-pro-will-introduce-heart.html)[[15]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/24/foldable-iphone-rumored-features/) Analysts also point to the device being positioned as a premium, AI-driven tool, with the large internal screen—rumored to be around 7.8 inches—enhancing multitasking capabilities. [[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/)[[16]](https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/06/major-ming-chi-kuo-has-released-a-major-report-on-his-predictions-for-apples-first-foldable-iphone.html)
This premium experience will undoubtedly come with a premium price tag. Most reports converge on a starting price of at least $2,000, with some predictions going as high as $2,500. [[1]](https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/21/iphone-fold-design-details-report-pricing-launch-date-more/)[[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/) While this would place it at the very top of the smartphone market, Apple may be counting on its loyal user base and the promise of a more durable, repairable, and refined foldable experience to justify the cost. [[2]](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/06/kuo-apple-foldable-iphone-book-style-2000/)