Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is once again drawing attention as the 2026 iPhone launch season approaches. A growing number of leaks suggest that the device - tentatively called the iPhone Fold - could mark a major turning point for the still relatively small foldable smartphone market.

For years, Android manufacturers have experimented with foldable designs and gradually refined the technology. Yet the category has not fully taken off. Analysts believe Apple’s entry could dramatically change the landscape, thanks not only to the global appeal of the iPhone brand but also to what many expect will be new display technology designed to address one of the biggest weaknesses of foldable phones: the visible crease in the middle of the screen.

If these rumors prove accurate, the iPhone Fold could become one of the most refined foldable smartphones ever introduced.

A tablet-sized display with a book-style fold

According to earlier leaks, the iPhone Fold will adopt a book-style folding design similar to many current foldable devices. When unfolded, the device offers a large display close to the size of a tablet. When closed, it functions like a conventional smartphone.

The inner display is rumored to measure around 7.8 inches, providing ample space for watching videos, multitasking or gaming. Meanwhile, the outer cover screen is expected to be about 5.5 inches - large enough for quick access to essential functions without needing to open the device.

In terms of processing power, the device is expected to feature Apple’s next-generation A20 Pro chip, designed in-house by the company. The processor will reportedly be manufactured by TSMC using a 2-nanometer process, representing a major step forward in semiconductor technology.

One notable feature of the A20 Pro is the use of Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor technology, a more advanced architecture than the FinFET design widely used today.

With Gate-All-Around architecture, the transistor gate surrounds all four sides of the channel rather than just three. This helps significantly reduce electrical leakage - one of the major challenges facing semiconductor chips as transistors become increasingly small.

Lower leakage allows the chip to maintain higher performance while consuming less power. At the same time, the maximum drive current - the amount of electrical current that flows when the transistor is fully active - can also improve.

Higher drive current enables higher clock speeds and therefore faster processing performance. As a result, the iPhone Fold could deliver both powerful computing capabilities and improved energy efficiency, a crucial factor for a device with a large display.

RAM on par with Pro flagship models

A new report from the South Korean technology publication The Bell claims the iPhone Fold will come with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, matching the memory capacity found in Apple’s highest-end flagship models.

Specifically, the foldable device is expected to carry the same RAM capacity as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it may also match the memory configuration planned for the next generation iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The memory chips are believed to be supplied by Samsung, which remains one of the world’s largest DRAM manufacturers.

Higher RAM capacity could be particularly useful for foldable devices, as users often run multiple applications simultaneously on the larger display through multitasking features.

Three storage options and a record-level price

According to information shared by leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, Apple is likely to offer the iPhone Fold in three storage configurations.

The base model may start at 256GB, followed by a 512GB version and a top-tier 1TB option - a familiar lineup for Apple’s premium iPhone models.

As for pricing, technology publication Macworld reports that the starting price could reach US$1,999 for the 256GB version. The 512GB model may cost around US$2,199, while the 1TB variant could reach approximately US$2,399.

If accurate, these figures would make the iPhone Fold the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. However, such pricing would not be entirely surprising given the complexity of foldable display technology, high-end hardware specifications and the enormous research and development costs involved.

The arrival of the iPhone Fold could have a significant impact on the broader foldable smartphone industry. For many years, the category has been considered a niche market with relatively modest sales compared with traditional smartphones.

However, analysts believe Apple’s participation could completely reshape the sector. The iPhone brand carries enormous influence, and if Apple succeeds with its first foldable device, the market could enter a new phase of rapid growth.

Some experts predict global shipments of foldable smartphones could increase by around 30 percent this year, signaling that the industry may be entering a new chapter in which foldable phones are no longer experimental devices but a more common part of everyday technology.

Hai Phong