By now, it’s almost a guarantee that Apple will launch its first foldable iPhone in 2026 . But it seems that isn’t all Apple has up its sleeve. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, he reiterates that Apple will launch a foldable in 2026, and the company will follow up with a foldable iPad in 2028.
Foldable iPhone coming in 2026
According to Kuo’s report, he claims that Apple seems particularly optimistic about the sales of its foldable iPhone in 2026. The analyst says that Apple had previously estimated it would sell 6-8 million units in the first year, and 10-15 million units in 2027. However, those estimates have been revised.
Kuo now says Apple is more optimistic about its sales, and thinks it could sell as many as 8-10 million units in 2026, and 20-25 million in 2027. That’s quite a huge increase, although we’re not sure why or how Apple is so optimistic about it.
For starters, the price of the phone is our main concern. We’re hearing rumors that the foldable iPhone could cost around $2,000 . That’s roughly on par with Samsung’s own foldable. This means that not everyone will be able to afford it, which in turn reduces how many units Apple will be able to sell.
Let’s not forget that even Samsung, with its years in the foldable scene, set an initial estimation of about 5 million units for both the Fold 7 and Flip 7. However, Apple does boast quite a loyal following. Plus, it has learned from the mistakes of its competitors , so maybe that’s how it thinks it will succeed.
Not just iPhone, but tablet too
In addition to the foldable iPhone, Kuo also claims that Apple will follow up with a foldable iPad in 2026. We’ve heard rumors of a foldable iPad in the past. In fact, at one point it was rumored that Apple could launch a foldable iPad before the iPhone. But assuming the latest rumors are accurate, the foldable iPhone could arrive first.
The analyst also notes that the foldable iPad could be more expensive. This is due to the use of larger Ultra-Thin Glass, making its price “considerably higher” than the iPhone.
