Apple is set to unveil its first foldable iPhone next year - with an eye-watering price tag
But Apple is one of the few companies yet to unveil a foldable device.
However, that may be soon about to change, because Apple is allegedly readying its first foldable iPhone – following in the footsteps of Samsung, Huawei and Motorola.
According to JP Morgan analyst, Samik Chatterjee, Apple is set to launch its first foldable iPhone in September 2026.
If Apple continues with its traditional iPhone naming system, this suggests the iPhone 18 could be a flip phone.
'With the upgrades to the iPhone 17 series to be released this fall expected to be fairly limited, investor focus has already turned to the 2026 fall launches with Apple expected to launch its first foldable iPhone as part of the iPhone 18 lineup in September 2026, featuring a book-style fold similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series,' Mr Chatterjee said in a note to clients, seen by CNBC.
Unsurprisingly, the foldable iPhone is likely to come with a hefty price tag.
Mr Chatterjee predicts that the device will retail at a whopping $1,999 - $1,000 more than the current iPhone 16 Pro.
The device, which is rumoured to be called the 'iPhone Fold', is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen.
For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, which was released last week, features an 8-inch inner display, and a 6.5-inch outer screen.
One of the biggest bugbears with Samsung's foldable is the 'crease' - a visible line running down the centre of the phone.
However, Apple's version is said to be crease-free, although how the tech giant is able to achieve this remains unclear.
In terms of price, the iPhone Fold is expected to be Apple's most expensive smartphone yet.
If the device really does start at $1,999 as Mr Chatterjee predicts, that would be $400 more than Apple's current most expensive smartphone - the 1TB version of the iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,599).
However, it's comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, which is priced at $1,999 - $2,419, depending on storage.
Mr Chatterjee predicts the new device will generate a whopping $65 billion in revenue for Apple, leading to a 'high-single-digit' earnings boost over the medium term.
As for shipments, the experts expects volumes to start in the 'low teens' of millions when the phone is released in 2027,
This will then climb to the 'mid-40s of millions' by 2029, he added.
Back in 2022, YouTubers in China created an impressive prototype of what the first foldable iPhone could look like.
The prototype, called iPhone V, folds down a central hinge in the screen and features silver iPhone lettering on the hinge, plus the iconic Apple icon on the back.
It was built by the engineers over more than 200 days using an iPhone X and the folding mechanism from Motorola's Razr.
MailOnline has contacted Apple for comment.
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones - the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner's face.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple's goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system.
2023: Apple brought back its 'Home Pod' after the first generation was discontinued. The 'Home Pod' can be seen as an alternative to Amazon's Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands.
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