TMTPOST -- Apple Inc. is expected to massively produce its first foldable smartphone next year, and shipments could reach several million units the following year, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable Apple analyst who is well-known for his accurate predictions over a decade.
Credit：Ming-Chi Kuo's Post
Apple’s foldable iPhone is expected to have premium pricing and enter mass production in the second half of 2026, and its assembly supplier Foxconn is projected to officially kick off the project in late third quarter or early fourth quarter of this year, Kuo said in a post on X on Wednesday.
Kuo revealed many component specifications, including those of the closely-watched hinge, have not been finalized yet, while the foldable display is one of the few components with finalized specifications. Therefore, the display can be used as a good reference to estimate potential shipments. Samsung Display, the supplier, plans to make 7 to 8 million foldable panels for the year 2026, said the TF Inernational Securities analyst.
Kuo cited recent market rumors that Apple has placed an order for 15 million to 20 million foldable iPhones, and noted based on checks across multiple components, the volume likely reflects the cumulative demand over the product’s two-three year lifecycle, instead of demand for the year 2026 alone. Kuo then believed the possible demand indicates that Apple’s foldable iPhone “may ship several million units annually in both 2027 and 2028, possibly due to its premium pricing.”
iPhone makes up over half of Apple’s business and remains an incredibly profitable product, accounting for $201 billion in sales in the company’s fiscal year 2024 ended on September 28, 2024. Rumors of the foldable iPhone swirled as iPhone revenue peaked in 2022, which forced Apple to explore ways to attract new customers and convince its current customers to upgrade to more expensive devices.
it was said in January that Apple is finalizing its supply chain’s main contractor for a folding screen, and is anticipated to make a decision by the end of February to the beginning of April. An online source at Chinese social media Weibo said in February that Apple’s large folding, 5.49-inch outer screen for the foldable iPhone is a bit like the Otto’s Find N, but is shorter and fatter, and the 7.74-inch inner screen unfolds like an iPad.
Kuo in a post in March said Apple is expected to set the retail price for its first-generation foldable iPhone above $2,000 and $2,500. The foldable iPhone will measure 9–9.5mm thick when folded and 4.5–4.8mm when unfolded, and have a book-style design, featuring an approximately 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and an approximately 5.5-inch outer display, according to Kuo. Another visible changes for the device is that Touch ID returns as a side button, as Face ID may be absent due to thickness and internal space constraints, per Kuo. The analyst said the rear camera of the device features a dual-lens setup, with one front-facing camera available in both folded and unfolded states. He added that the foldable iPhone will be equipped with the hinge combining stainless and titanium alloy, and powered by the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17.
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