Apple plans to enter the foldable smartphone market this September, according to reports surfacing from supply chain insiders. Despite the technical challenges posed by specialized flexible screen components and durable material requirements, the company is pushing to make the device available alongside its annual flagship hardware refresh.
Bloomberg reports that the foldable project is a central pillar in a broader three-year strategy to overhaul the iPhone’s design language and overall user experience. The initiative aims to modernize the platform as competition from device manufacturers like Samsung and Oppo intensifies in the premium handset sector.
A multi-year hardware evolution
Apple analyst Mark Gurman outlines a three-phase roadmap for this design transition. The first phase took shape last year, characterized by refinements to the Pro and Pro Max lines and the introduction of the significantly thinner iPhone Air, which signaled a shift toward more minimalist hardware profiles.
Following the debut of the foldable model, Apple is reportedly turning its attention toward a new flagship device slated for 2027. This release will coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the original iPhone, potentially serving as a technological showcase for the company’s long-term design vision.
While Apple enters a market already crowded by Chinese manufacturers and Samsung, sources indicate that the Cupertino-based tech giant is focusing on specific design differentiators. The company aims to avoid the common pitfalls of early foldable iterations while maintaining a form factor that feels familiar to its existing user base.
Engineers are currently finalizing the pivot mechanism and display glass to ensure the device meets Apple’s strict durability standards. If the company hits its internal production milestones, the foldable iPhone will represent the most significant hardware departure for the brand since the introduction of the larger-screened models a decade ago.