Apple's Foldable iPhone Lineup: Three Generations, Every Rumor from 2026 to 2028

Apple has never officially acknowledged a foldable iPhone, but a consistent stream of reports from analysts, supply-chain sources, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has built a detailed picture of the company's plans through 2028. Based on the current state of these rumors, Apple is preparing a three-generation foldable lineup that will introduce a new book-style "Ultra" tier, a clamshell Flip, and eventually a third-generation redesign. Here is what the leaks suggest so far.

Generation 1: iPhone Fold / iPhone Ultra (Late 2026)

The first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive in September 2026, unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max . Some reports flag a possible availability slip to December 2026 . Trial production has reportedly already started at Foxconn .

Form factor: A book-style vertical fold, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold .

Displays: A ~7.8-inch inner LTPO OLED with a 2,713 × 1,920 resolution and a ~5.5-inch cover display . Samsung is expected to supply crease-free OLED panels . When unfolded, the device is rumored to be about 4.5mm thick; when closed, between 9mm and 9.5mm .

Chip and memory: An Apple A20 Pro chip built on TSMC's 2nm process, paired with 12GB of RAM .

Cameras and biometrics: Dual 48MP rear cameras (wide and ultra-wide). There is no telephoto lens and no Face ID — instead, Touch ID is expected to be embedded in the power button .

Materials: A titanium alloy or liquid metal hinge for durability, and a titanium-aluminum frame .

Pricing: Multiple sources converge on a starting price between $1,999 and $2,500, with $1,999–$2,399 as the most commonly cited range . UBS analysts have suggested $1,800–$2,000, while other estimates go as high as $2,500 .

Name: Likely "iPhone Fold," "iPhone Ultra," or "iPhone Fold Ultra" .

Generation 2: iPhone Fold 2 and iPhone Flip (2027)

Two distinct models are expected in 2027, splitting the foldable line into two form factors for the first time.

iPhone Fold 2: A second-generation book-style foldable. Omdia analyst forecasts point to a launch in the second half of 2027, alongside Apple's "iPhone 20" lineup (Apple is expected to skip iPhone 19 and rebrand the 2027 series as iPhone 20) . The Fold 2 is likely to feature iterative spec bumps: a newer chip, a refined hinge, and possibly larger displays .

iPhone Flip: A clamshell (flip-style) foldable resembling the Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola Razr. Currently described as in "active exploration" and reported for 2027–2028 . This would be Apple's first entry into the more compact, potentially more affordable foldable segment. The Flip is expected to feature a single 48MP main camera, an ultra-thin folded profile under 4mm, and a "simple information display" on the outside with AI shortcuts .

2027 iPhone lineup context: The broader 2027 family is expected to include iPhone 20, iPhone 20 Air, iPhone 20 Pro, iPhone 20 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold 2, according to Omdia senior researcher Heo Moo-yeol .

Generation 3: iPhone Ultra 3 / iPhone Fold 3 (2028)

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is already developing a third-generation foldable iPhone with a target launch as early as 2028 . Gurman describes the third-gen model as bringing the first "truly revolutionary design change" to the foldable line after the first two generations . MacRumors reports that it will feature slightly larger displays on both the inner foldable screen and the outer cover screen . Very few other concrete details are available at this stage.

Competitive and product context

Apple is entering a foldable market that Samsung has dominated since 2019 (Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series), alongside growing competition from Google (Pixel Fold), OnePlus (Open), and Chinese OEMs like Huawei and Xiaomi .

Apple's approach reportedly emphasizes durability — a crease-free display from Samsung and premium hinge materials — as well as deep iOS ecosystem integration . The first-generation book-style foldable, priced above $2,000, would create a new "Ultra" tier above even the Pro Max. The clamshell Flip would then target the more compact, potentially lower-priced segment where Samsung's Z Flip line has seen strong adoption .

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has projected that Apple could ship 3 to 5 million iPhone Fold units in its first year, with second-generation volumes potentially reaching 20 million by 2027 .

Important caveat: Apple has confirmed nothing. All timelines are based on unconfirmed reports from analysts, supply-chain leaks, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Timelines have slipped multiple times in the past, and engineering challenges, component yields, and market conditions could shift these dates further. Treat all details as reported rumors, not confirmed product plans.