Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone, which will feature a foldable screen, in the fall of 2026. Meanwhile, the launch schedule for the basic iPhone, which used to accompany this release every fall, is likely to change to the first half of 2027.
According to multiple foreign media reports on the 17th (local time), Apple plans to unveil the “iPhone 18” series in the latter half of next year (2026). This series will include four models: the high-end “iPhone 18 Pro” and “iPhone 18 Pro Max,” a thinner mid-range model “iPhone 18 Air,” and the newly introduced foldable iPhone.
Previously, the basic iPhone was included in this series and released simultaneously in the fall. However, it is expected that the basic model will be an exception next year and will be released separately in the spring of 2027. Industry analysts say, “The introduction of the foldable phone has brought changes to the existing lineup structure.”
The foldable iPhone is expected to feature two screens, one when folded and another when unfolded. When unfolded, it will have an internal screen approximately 7.8 inches in size, and when folded, a 5.5-inch external screen is likely to be mounted. It is reported that Apple plans to apply titanium material to the hinge part so that the crease is almost imperceptible.
The foldable product is expected to have a battery capacity significantly larger than existing iPhones, estimated at 5000 to 5500mAh. Storage space will start at a minimum of 256GB, with 12GB of RAM. The camera will likely feature a 48-megapixel dual camera on the back, with a hidden selfie camera integrated into the internal screen.
The release price is expected to be around $2,000 (approximately 2.7 million KRW). The industry estimates the first year production volume to be around 6 to 8 million units. Global investment bank JP Morgan predicts that this foldable phone will sell over 45 million units by 2028, suggesting that “Apple may start leading the foldable phone market in earnest.”
The background for the change in the iPhone release schedule is analyzed as a “strategy to maximize sales effects by splitting the release timing.” Currently, Apple releases most iPhones simultaneously in the fall, resulting in a tendency for sales to concentrate in the second half of the year. However, it seems that the strategy will be revised to release high-end models in the fall and standard and basic models separately in the spring.
Indeed, Apple released a basic model named “iPhone 16e” in the first half of this year, which replaced the existing “SE” model. In the future, entry-level products will be introduced by adding an “e” to the number. For example, the “iPhone 17e” is expected to be released in the first half of next year.
Additionally, Apple is reorganizing the entire lineup, such as replacing the existing “Plus” model with the “Air” model. In the future, it is possible that a total of six types of iPhones will be released each year. In the first half, “e” models and regular models will be released, and in the second half, Pro, Air, Pro Max, and foldable models will be sequentially released.
The exact schedule and product configuration are expected to be finalized through Apple’s official announcements.