The yr 2026 goes to be a stacked one for Apple’s portfolio, however probably the most eagerly-awaited merchandise is the upcoming foldable iPhone. Closely rumored to debut within the Fall season this yr alongside the iPhone 18 collection, it will mark the primary time that Apple is coming into the foldable cellphone section, one the place Samsung presently reigns supreme.
A shock shift
But it surely appears Apple is engaged on an much more formidable concept, one that’s extra pocketable, and presumably, extra pocket-friendly, as effectively. We’re speaking a couple of clamshell-style foldable iPhone, one that will problem the likes of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola’s Razr collection.
“Now there’s one other foldable machine into consideration inside Apple labs (and it received’t come as a shock given what Motorola and Samsung Electronics Co. have already accomplished): a sq., clamshell-style foldable cellphone,” says a report by Bloomberg. That is the primary time we’re listening to about such a tool, although the outlet warns that it may very well be canned or delayed.
To date, Samsung, Motorola, and Chinese language labels reminiscent of Honor and Xiaomi have put clamshell-style foldable telephones on the cabinets. Reeling beneath the recent competitors, Samsung even added a extra inexpensive “Fan Version” aka FE mannequin to its Galaxy Z Flip collection.
What to anticipate?
Motorola, however, provides its clamshell foldable telephones in a number of flavors throughout completely different worth factors. Huawei, however, has even experimented a vertically-folding, but fairly pocketable, format referred to as the Pura X.

Now, the report of Apple probably making a clamshell-style foldable cellphone goes to ship shockwaves by the market. Nonetheless, so much hinges on the success of Apple’s preliminary book-style foldable cellphone set to reach later this yr.
Apple is already stated to have solved the crease downside on its upcoming cellphone, and it will be fascinating to see whether or not that show innovation ultimately seems on a clamshell-type folding iPhone, too.
When precisely does the “iPhone Flip” come out? That is still unknown because the venture remains to be within the early phases of growth. But it surely actually appears to be like like Apple’s {hardware} workforce goes again to its experimenting methods.


