- Apple iPhone Fold reportedly enters prototype testing phase inching closer to its launch next year.
- Prototype stage will complete by end of this year followed by EVT stage commencing early next year.
- When all is done, we could see the much-awaited iPhone Fold making its wave in Fall of 2026 alongside iPhone 18 Series, if everything goes as planned.
The long-rumored Apple iPhone Fold reportedly entered its prototype testing phase last month, signaling an on-time arrival later next year. We got our hands on the report, and here’s what we found out about the latest development.
iPhone Fold Enters Prototype Stage With Potential Launch in September 2026
According to the folks at Digitimes, the iPhone Fold entered a Prototype 1 (P1) stage last month. For the unversed, P1 stage means Apple now has fully-functional devices to perform tests that are likely to conclude by the end of this year.
As a general rule of thumb at Cupertino-based Apple, it usually starts testing its devices with a series of mockups, each with slight or vivid variation in terms of design and arrangements. Once this stage is clear, Apple enters the aforementioned P1 stage, followed by the Engineering Verification Test (EVT) stage, set to launch early next year. This is where Apple will be testing out if the design is practical to manufacture and whatnot.
All this is to prepare the upcoming Apple iPhone Fold for a speculated Fall 2026 launch alongside the iPhone 18 Series. Do note that even though we are certain when iPhone 18 will debut, it remains elusive whether the iPhone Fold will drop by the same day or we will have to wait for some more time. This is excluding the wait time right from the first foldable phone launched by Apple’s major competitor, Samsung, in 2019.
We Expect a Lot from Apple, But Only Time Will Tell
It’s not just us at True-Tech, but I would say the entire tech industry is waiting for Apple to roll out its first foldable device. Samsung did it six years ago, and most of the smartphone makers have already delivered their foldable phones over the years. We just got a thin Honor Magic V5 earlier on Wednesday, and we can mention tens of foldable phones for now.
The speculated Apple iPhone Fold is likely to come with a Samsung-made foldable display, probably with a size of 7.58”. There have been reports that the display will have minimal visible creases, and that’s why it roped in Samsung Displays to do the hard work. We have heard about Touch ID and now Face ID on board, there’s a titanium chassis involved, and the one around its 48MP rear camera setup.
We don’t want to get too excited, though, since Apple has long been talking about foldable phones (unofficially / in rumors) but hasn’t delivered one yet. No doubt the phone will carry a super expensive price tag, but hey, foldable phones are pricier than traditional flagships as of now, although we could see a massive drop in pricing over the years as the tech becomes mainstream.
