The folding iPhone rumored to reach in 2026 may mark a significant turning level for foldable units. However to tug that off, Apple’s first folding telephone must do extra than simply look good — it must nail the basics.
From sturdiness and design to software program and digital camera efficiency, right here’s every thing I wish to see within the foldable iPhone.
What I need from Apple’s first foldable iPhone
Foldable Android smartphones have come a great distance in the previous few years. They’re thinner than ever, characteristic improved sturdiness and pack super-bright folding screens. But, they’ve did not go mainstream.
Whereas their steep $1,800-plus worth tags are a key cause behind this, the folding telephone section wants a push. And that’s one thing solely Apple can present.
Lots is driving on the foldable iPhone, particularly since Apple missed the AI prepare. And with practically each main smartphone model already providing a strong foldable, Apple will probably be becoming a member of the sport late, going through stiff competitors proper from the beginning.
To turn into a game-changer just like the iPhone X in 2017, Apple’s first foldable iPhone wants to face out from the gang. Right here’s what the folding iPhone must excel.
Skinny, mild and sturdy
Photograph: Marques Brownlee
Apple can’t simply glue two iPhone 16 Execs collectively and name it a folding iPhone. It should make the machine skinny and lightweight to make sure it’s straightforward to hold round. Whereas just a few further grams or an additional millimeter of thickness may go unnoticed on a slab telephone, they make a giant distinction on a folding telephone.
In a folded state, the foldable iPhone ought to be only a wee bit thicker than the 8.25 mm iPhone 16 Professional Max. And it ought to be as mild — if not lighter — than it.
Samsung’s just lately unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 7 looks like a special machine from its predecessor as a result of it’s slimmer and lighter. It measures 8.9 mm thick in a folded state, down from the 12.1 mm Z Fold 6.
The foldable iPhone ought to purpose for the same thinness; it may possibly’t go any thinner as a result of USB-C port.
Apple will probably have to make main design modifications to tug this off, each inside and out of doors. The upcoming iPhone 17 Air might be a step in that path, with a rumored thickness of 5.5 mm.
Past thinness, the foldable iPhone additionally must be light-weight. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs simply 215 grams — lighter than the iPhone 16 Professional Max, which is available in at 227 grams. This isn’t nearly just a few grams; it makes a giant distinction in day by day use.
With Oppo, Honor and Samsung launching ultra-slim, book-style foldables, Apple can’t falter on this space.
Moreover being skinny and lightweight, Apple additionally must make the foldable iPhone sturdy. This stays a giant concern with foldables, as none at present supply an IP68 dust- and water resistant ranking. Some units, just like the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold, carry an IPX8 ranking, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is IP48-certified.
Contemplating iPhones have featured an IP68 ranking for years, something much less on the foldable iPhone would really feel like a step backward.
iPad energy on a folding iPhone display screen
Photograph: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Experiences counsel iOS 27 will concentrate on options particular to the foldable iPhone. This appears mandatory, as Apple can not ship the identical outdated iOS expertise on the folding telephone’s massive inside show.
Ideally, the foldable iPhone’s cowl show ought to really feel like utilizing a daily iPhone. However when unfolded, the bigger inside display screen wants to supply an expertise nearer to utilizing an iPad.
To attain that, the foldable iPhone should seamlessly swap between iPhone- and iPad-optimized app layouts throughout its outer and inside shows. Apple already has one massive benefit over different Android foldables right here: an enormous library of iPadOS-optimized apps.
Apple also needs to convey iPadOS 26‘s multitasking system to the foldable iPhone. A big inside show solely is smart if it may possibly run two or three apps aspect by aspect. I don’t need a massive display screen to run blown-up iPhone apps. If the big inside display screen solely replicates the iPhone expertise, that can undermine the machine’s potential.
Simply as with the 2017 iPhone X, Apple ought to rethink iOS to make the most of the foldable iPhone to its full potential.
Moreover an improved multitasking expertise on the larger display screen, the foldable iPhone ought to supply assist for Apple Pencil, the stylus that at present solely works with iPads. It’s not a must have, however it might be a beneficial addition for customers who wish to sketch, annotate or take notes on the go.
Flagship cameras or bust
Photograph: MKBHD
Practically all Android foldables include a weaker digital camera setup in comparison with their slab-style flagship counterparts. This is because of their super-thin designs, however there’s at all times room for enchancment. And if there’s one firm that may break this custom, it’s Apple.
Like the present iPhone Execs, the primary foldable iPhone ought to sport a 5x periscope shooter. It also needs to characteristic a 48MP main and a 48MP ultrawide. These aren’t simply specs on paper — they assist ship a constant Professional-level images expertise, no matter type issue.
Apple can’t take the rumored iPhone 17 Air strategy by equipping the folding iPhone with solely a single rear digital camera. Such a compromise would undermine the foldable iPhone’s flagship id to a big extent.
The foldable iPhone should ship the identical imaging high quality as its slab counterpart. If Apple’s foldable suffers from the identical compromises as current-gen foldables, it is going to be exhausting to justify the corporate’s late entry into the market.
Endurance to match the expertise
Photograph: iFixit
Nearly all Apple units stand out for his or her excellent battery life. The MacBook Air and MacBook Professional can final nearly a day of steady use on a full cost. Likewise, iPads could make it by way of a day of school with sufficient juice left within the tank to look at a film later within the evening.
iPhones, too, supply nice battery life, with the iPhone 16e lasting considerably longer than another mannequin. And that’s regardless of it utilizing a paltry 3,961mAh battery — considerably smaller than the 5,000mAh-plus cells most Android telephones use.
A folding iPhone ought to last more than an peculiar iPhone. It must ship nearly iPad-like battery life. That’s simpler mentioned than performed, particularly since Apple may also need to make the machine skinny and lightweight. However then once more, if there’s any firm that may do that, it’s Apple.
The corporate can take its learnings from the common iPhone 16e and the upcoming iPhone 17 Air and apply them to the folding iPhone. The mixture of power-efficient elements and a decent-size battery ought to allow the folding iPhone to final for much longer than its rivals.
Samsung’s foldables endure from poor battery life, with the OnePlus Open and Pixel 9 Professional Fold fairing higher. Some Chinese language foldables, just like the Oppo Discover N5 and Honor Magic V3, pack massive silicon-carbon batteries, enabling them to supply longer runtime. However they don’t seem to be accessible in america.
Apple’s first folding iPhone ought to land within the second half of 2026. By then, the foldable smartphone house may have developed even additional. To face out, Apple might want to ship extra than simply modern {hardware}. With AI quickly reshaping the best way we work together with our units, the foldable iPhone should mix cutting-edge design with significant software program innovation to really make a mark.
