Apple to launch first foldable iPhone
On Tuesday, analysts at Wall Street bank JP Morgan said the long awaited flip phone would form part of the new iPhone 18 lineup due in September 2026 and cost $1,999.
The book-style device is likely be similar to the Galaxy Z Fold series, and will see Apple join the likes of Samsung which has been selling foldable smartphones since 2019.
Although Apple has not confirmed the launch, JP Morgan closely monitors developments at the tech giant and believes a flip phone is the next logical step after its most current model, the iPhone 17, runs out of steam.
Throughout its history, Apple has repeatedly taken existing devices from smartwatches to tablet and taken them mainstream.
JP Morgan expect this to happen again, with the sales potential for foldable smartphones expanding significantly from this year onwards because of Apple's foray into the foldable phone market.
'The market for foldable smartphones is expected to be a niche one with positioning at the premium-end of the total market,' said Samik Chatterjee from the bank.
The launch of a foldable model promises to be the most significant design update to the iPhone since Apple's founder Steve Jobs launched its first smartphone in 2007.
Each subsequent year the updates have been met with keen interest from Apple's customers, with consumers often queuing through the night to be the first to get their hands on the newest models.
But in recent years Apple's updates have been less compelling for customers, often with relatively lacklustre promises like improved battery life or minor software updates.
JPMorgan said the upgrades to the iPhone 17 series to be released this autumn are expected to be 'fairly limited' and investors are already focused on next year's offering.
The news of a radical new model will be a welcome respite for the Silicon Valley tech giant, which has struggled to maintain its runaway growth.
In June, Apple's flagship annual showcase fell flat as the iPhone maker failed to inspire confidence that it is keeping pace with peers on artificial intelligence - despite its enormous hardware and software ecosystems.
Apple shares have slumped 15pc since the beginning of the year, as the technology giant navigates threats including those from President Trump's tariffs on Chinese-made goods.
To make matters worse, Apple's former chief designer Sir Jony Ive joined OpenAI in May as part of a $6.5bn (£4.8bn) deal to challenge the iPhone.
In a thinly veiled jab at his previous employer Sir Jony took aim at the 'legacy' products on the market and their 'decades old' technology.
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