Latest news with #foldableiPhone
Phone Arena
15 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Apple's foldable iPhone screen sizes are unlikely to blow your mind, new report suggests
Are you ready to welcome Apple's first-ever foldable iPhone into the stagnant market segment dominated by Samsung and Huawei? Even though the device has basically made as many headlines of late as the recently unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 7, its launch is almost certainly still around a year away, which isn't stopping analysts and insiders from painting a pretty vivid (and credible) picture of what to expect. One key detail that's been in the news a lot over the last few months pertains to size, and while some conflicting information was reported by a couple of sources at one point, several recent rumors are calling for the exact same (unimpressive) numbers. TrendForce analysts are today joining a host of other reliable sources in anticipating Apple's rookie Galaxy Z Fold-rivaling effort will settle for a 7.8-inch internal display and 5.5-inch external screen. How would that compare with some of the world's best foldable devices available right now? Not very favorably, as the hot new Galaxy Z Fold 7 rocks a massive 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch primary screen, for instance. Apple's first foldable iPhone is unlikely to come close to the Z Fold 7's huge cover screen. | Image Credit -- PhoneArena Even last year's Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold would hold a major advantage over the iPhone Fold (whose name is obviously not etched in stone yet) in both departments, with something like the OnePlus Open essentially tying that aforementioned main display size while also handily winning the secondary screen battle. In short, Apple's long-awaited first foldable iPhone is likely to be at a big disadvantage compared to many of its key rivals in a very important area when it eventually comes out, although you have to keep in mind that an even more pessimistic rumor called for an even smaller 7.58-inch primary display just last month. So, yes, things could end up looking even less impressive next year, at least from this particular standpoint. That's because the " iPhone Fold " (once again, unconfirmed name) is likely to offset its apparent screen size weakness with strengths in other areas, like battery capacity, durability, and perhaps most importantly, a totally crease-free display for an absolutely gorgeous design. That's something that market research firms have identified as a strong possibility for a number of years now, but of course, no one can guarantee that the first foldable iPhone will instantly connect with mainstream audiences around the world. Especially at a price expected by many to exceed $2,000. What's crystal clear is that the global foldable market is in desperate need of a new hero, looking at barely racking up 19.8 million unit sales in 2025 and thus more or less matching the 1.6 percent penetration rate of 2024. That's not a very positive outlook for Samsung... or Huawei. That essentially means foldables will account for 1 in 60 smartphone purchases made this year, which has to be a disappointing number for brands like Samsung, Huawei, Honor, and Motorola. Those are (in order) the world's top foldable smartphone vendors, all of which probably expected to see their sales figures grow at a steadier pace by now. Instead, Samsung's dominant market share is projected to go down from 45.2 percent in 2024 to 35.4 percent this year, with silver medalist Huawei maintaining a relatively stable 34.3 percent of the pie and thus coming really close to the gold medal position. In third and fourth place respectively, Honor and Motorola are expected to jump from 6 and 5.5 percent to 9.1 and 7.6 percent market shares, thus strengthening their positions as "fast-growing players"... that are nonetheless unlikely to vie for gold or silver medals anytime soon. Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Gulf Business
3 days ago
- Gulf Business
Apple's foldable iPhone speculation: What you need to know
Image: Getty Images Read- Rather than taking a radically new approach, Apple is expected to refine existing foldable technology. This includes minimising the screen crease on the main display and introducing a more durable hinge mechanism. The next version of Apple's mobile operating system, likely called iOS 27, is also expected to feature optimisations for foldable displays. Apple iPhone Fold: What to expect Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously stated that the foldable iPhone could sport a sleek design, measuring between 9mm to 9.5mm when folded, and just 4.5mm to 4.8mm when unfolded. The device is expected to include a 5.5-inch external screen and a 7.8-inch internal display with minimal crease visibility. These details were echoed by analyst Jeff Pu, who also noted that the outer screen may have a resolution of 2088 x 1422 pixels, while the inner display could be 2713 x 1920 pixels. Finalising specifications and supply chain readiness Apple is on the cusp of launching its first foldable iPhone, with the supply chain reportedly close to finalising specifications for a book-style 'iPhone Fold' targeting a release in the second half of 2026. This move marks Apple's entry into a segment that, while still niche, is poised for transformation as the world's most influential smartphone brand steps in. UBS surveyed the landscape in an analyst note titled Unfolding the implications of an iPhone Fold launch. The firm's teardown analysis of Samsung's Z Fold SE (BOM cost: $790) suggests Apple's iPhone Fold could achieve a bill-of-materials cost of $759, about 4 per cent lower, thanks to cost savings on memory, application processors, and camera modules, even as premium materials drive up casing and hinge costs, Pricing strategy and production forecast Initial production is expected to be limited, with estimates ranging from 10 million to 15 million units in the first wave. This cautious rollout reflects both the technical complexity of foldable devices and the high price point, which analysts view as a barrier to mass adoption. Early reports suggest the iPhone Fold could be priced between $2,000 and $2,400, making it Apple's most expensive phone to date and positioning it as a premium, aspirational product. However, UBS says Apple's cost discipline may allow it to price the device at the lower end of the anticipated range ($1,800–$2,000), with contribution margins of 53 per cent–58 per cent, in line with Samsung's foldables and well above the iPhone 16 series. Supply chain ripple effects The iPhone Fold's launch is also expected to have a positive ripple effect across Apple's supply chain, including companies like Amphenol, Hirose, TDK, Avary, and SDI. Many of these firms are currently trading below historical valuation averages, and the visibility of a new product ramp could boost sentiment and share prices. The iPhone Fold's unique design is set to benefit several key players: Display Panels: Samsung Display is expected to be the primary supplier, with capacity to produce up to 15 million 7-inch foldable OLED panels annually. LG Display may also play a role as Apple diversifies its sourcing. Casing and Hinges: The device will likely feature a titanium casing and a liquid metal hinge, with suppliers such as Lens Technology, Amphenol, and Hon Hai (Foxconn) positioned to benefit from a higher BOM wallet share. EMS Providers: Hon Hai is expected to handle initial assembly, with Luxshare as a secondary partner, reflecting Apple's strategy of leveraging its established manufacturing ecosystem. Late entry in a nascent market Apple is late to the foldable game, as rumors have intensified that the company will launch its first folding iPhone, possibly called the iPhone Flip, in 2026. But that might be just fine. The market is still young, with foldable phones accounting for well under 5 per cent of all smartphones sold globally. A crease-free iPhone would mark the latest innovation in foldable technology — a category that began with Huawei's $2,600 Mate X in 2019, followed by its triple-screen concept, and continued with Samsung's ongoing Flip and Fold releases. Samsung's latest models were unveiled just last week, and a tri-fold phone is also rumored to be in the works for later this year, Setting the bar for foldables If successful, the iPhone Fold could not only reinvigorate the premium smartphone segment but also set a new standard for foldables. Apple's typical focus on polished user experience, software-hardware synergy, and ecosystem integration could help address the shortcomings that have kept foldables from broader mainstream appeal. While the foldable market remains niche, Apple's entry is expected to expand consumer awareness and push the segment forward. As 2026 approaches, the tech world will be watching closely to see if Apple can do for foldables what it once did for smartphones.
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
The foldable iPhone will be a slam dunk against the Galaxy Z Fold 7 because of two reasons
*Image credit — Technizo Concept It's finally happening: Apple is winding down the last few stages of research and development, and the foldable iPhone is ready to enter production. This phone, which seemed almost like a lie over the years, is about to make its grand entry into the market, and I think it'll be a slam dunk against the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Don't get me wrong, the Fold 7 sold me on foldables, and is easily one of the best foldable phones out there today. Samsung finally caught up with its Chinese competitors in almost every aspect, but Apple is honing in on the two hardware limitations that the Fold 7 hasn't addressed. Samsung has greatly improved the crease on the Fold this year. | Image credit — PhoneArena If I'm being honest, a crease-free foldable smartphone still doesn't feel like a possibility with today's technology. The displays that foldables use develop deeper creases over time as their fold and unfold count keeps rising. It's just a fact of physics. A fact that has kept Apple from releasing a foldable for years. The company has, according to industry insiders, remained adamant on only releasing a foldable iPhone once it can completely eliminate the main display's crease line. Now that the phone is nearing production, many reports have come in that claim that Apple's foldable will have the most advanced hinge and display on the market. But no one has been brave enough to say that it will be crease-free. But if Apple has somehow managed to make a foldable phone with no crease, then it will be the first company on the market to do so. The foldable iPhone wouldn't just surpass the Galaxy Z Fold 7 , but also literally every other foldable that currently exists. Which is why the recent leak of a second trump card makes me think that Apple may have something truly spectacular up its sleeve. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 kept the same 4,400 mAh battery as the Fold 6. | Video credit — Samsung Yep, apparently the foldable iPhone's battery is going to range between a capacity of 5000 mAh to 5,500 mAh. Apple is unlikely to use a silicon battery just yet, and will probably take advantage of the fact that its foldable is thicker than the Fold 7 . At a rumored thickness of approximately 9.5 mm, Apple has a lot more wiggle room to play around with. Now, this battery capacity isn't too mind-blowing, considering the batteries that Chinese foldable phones have been shipping with. But when it comes to one-on-one competition with the Fold 7 , the foldable iPhone will likely boast a much longer battery life. This will only be improved by the AI-powered iOS 26 feature that manages battery usage much better than before. The foldable iPhone is hardly perfect, at least according to recent leaks and rumors. For example, leaked foldable iPhone screen specs suggest that the phone will fall behind the Fold 7 in certain aspects, let alone the Fold 8 which it will directly also unlikely to do anything special, barring the aforementioned crease-free display that I'm still skeptical about. According to industry insider Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to sell the foldable iPhone using the hype created by Samsung's foldables. But, let's be honest. If you're an iPhone user — especially one that's deeply entrenched in the company's ecosystem — you're never going to buy an Android foldable. Even if the foldable iPhone had been worse in every way, that would have been your first folding phone, and that's completely understandable. But if Apple actually manages to make a foldable iPhone that has no crease and boasts a larger battery than the Fold, then it will be a hype monster. Everyone will eat it up, and even Android users may be swayed. I think it's safe to say that Samsung needs to put in even more effort for the Fold 8, lest it be left in the dust by a phone that it supplied the displays for.
Digital Trends
3 days ago
- Digital Trends
Foldable iPhone would intrigue despite Samsung's head start
The rumors around a foldable iPhone are ramping up, with more tipsters claiming to know what Apple is planning in this space. A lot of the analysis pegs the new iPhone Fold coming in 2026, meaning we've got just over a year to wait – but given we've had foldable phones from brands like Samsung, Oppo and Google for a few years now, why would 2026 be the year Apple goes flexible with its phones? Recommended Videos For me, it's all about the screen – and that's where history might be repeating itself. The key rumors so far While far from substantiated, here's what the current rumor mill is predicting for a potential folding Phone: Why does this matter? When considering why Apple hasn't entered the foldable market so far, it's important to consider its form here. It only introduced OLED display technology to its smartphones in 2017, with the iPhone X, despite them being reviewed as some of the best-looking screens for years. I remember reviewing one of the first handsets to use OLED screens: the Samsung Wave in 2010, a 'smartphone' that pre-dated the Galaxy S, Samsung's first Android phone. I was blown away by the color reproduction, the inky blacks, and the overall look and feel, and can still remember the excitement over watching content on that display. However, despite looking vivid, colorful and having amazing contrast ratios, OLED screens also had a few issues compared to LCD – namely, lower brightness, higher difficulty for manufacture (and therefore cost) and potentially screen 'burn in', where a static image can become permanently scarred onto the phone's screen. The DT Viewpoint: it's all coming together So it makes sense that Apple will have waited roughly the same amount of time if it does, indeed, launch a foldable phone next year, especially as component manufacturers will need time to tool things up to achieve the level of flexible glass and integrated touch sensors that Apple would want. Issues around the cost of manufacture mean that getting the level of sharpness needed would be too expensive, but as production processes have improved, it seems likely that the cost threshold for making a viable product is getting closer. There's been a lot of news recently about greater investment from foldable display component suppliers like Fine M-Tec improving their processes to allow for crease-free displays, which seems like another standard that Apple wouldn't be willing to compromise on. The resolution rumor of 428PPI for the inside screen is something that gives me pause – that's very high resolution for a foldable, with an iPad mini coming in at around 330PPI and even the latest Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 only offering ~370PPI. Apple isn't in the business of competing only on spec, so it's either waited this long so it can claim the sharpest foldable display around, or this is something that's a little wide of the mark. Another spec rumor that I'm waiting to evolve with some intrigue: the front screen of the device coming in at only 5.5-inches. That's iPhone 12 Mini level, and that's a screen size that Apple canned in favor of larger devices. While I still speak to many people who wish smartphones were a little smaller, it's an interesting idea that Apple would basically model the new iPhone Fold on a size format that didn't perform as well – surely this will end up being a little larger? Speaking of confusing rumors, I can't see that under-screen selfie camera coming true any time soon though – the latest Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 smartphone doesn't have one (despite its predecessor using the technology) as it seeks to offer the best quality. Apple hasn't caved to pressure to drop the Dynamic Island on its smartphones (which house the front-facing sensors and cameras). These could be placed under the screen and give it a clean-looking finish, but the result would be lower-quality than with the cut-out. So what's next? Well, if the iPhone Fold (or whatever it will be called) does emerge in 2026, then we'll start seeing production of the device ramp up in the early part of the year, meaning more leaks will potentially begin to emerge. There are still several things that haven't emerged yet – likely because, if this timeline is correct, there are still many decisions to be made – such as screen refresh rate or how the software would work. Would it be a hybrid, where the outer screen uses iOS 27 and the inner display working on iPad OS 27? The answers to these questions will be fascinating, as the foldable phone feels like one of the last smartphone design shifts left to happen, so eventually all brands will join the party – so what will Apple do to stand out?
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
iPhone Fold will trounce the competition, if this rumor is legit
AI-generated iPhone Fold image Apple reportedly plans to launch the first foldable iPhone next year, and a new report says that it might have a bigger battery than many of the current top foldable phones. Despite foldable phones making their debut seven years ago, Apple still doesn't have one in its lineup. That's typical of Apple, which is cautious about embracing new technologies. The concerns that the company had regarding foldable phones , such as display crease, have apparently been addressed, and it's allegedly targeting a 2026 launch for the first foldable iPhone . Chinese website MyDrivers has corroborated rumors that the device will feature a Samsung-made OLED panel. So far, the battery capacity of the device wasn't known, but MyDrivers has lifted the lid on the battery specs. The website says that the device will feature a battery in the range of 5,000mAh to 5,500mAh. The blog didn't delve into details about how Apple would achieve that. After all, the weight and size limitations of foldable phones don't allow for large batteries, assuming manufacturers stick with the mainstream lithium-ion batteries, which most non-Chinese vendors were some rumors about Apple exploring the use of silicon-carbon batteries for its foldable phone and the rumored iPhone 17 Air to increase capacity with the same footprint, but those leaks have largely died down. The iPhone 17 Air , for instance, is expected to use a 2,800mAh battery. The company reportedly also tried its hand at making thinner batteries, but failed. Most sources now hint that the company is more likely to focus on improving efficiency to extend the battery life on the bendable iPhone. For instance, it's expected to use improved display components to cut down on power consumption. Moving on, today's report also says the foldable iPhone will cost more than 15,000 yuan (~$2,089.73). This is in line with earlier rumors. Bloomberg today reported that the device would have largely the same design as the Galaxy Z Fold. The report said that Apple would play on Samsung's success instead of breaking new ground, which again makes it sound unlikely that the foldable iPhone will have a carbon battery. The rumor shouldn't entirely be ruled out, considering the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 4,650mAh cell. That phone is 10.5 mm thick in the folded state, though, whereas the bendable iPhone is likely to be around 9 to 9.5 mm thick. All things said, the bendable iPhone is more than a year away, and Apple still has time to finalize the specs. The foldable iPhone is expected to have a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display. It will allegedly have a titanium chassis and a liquid metal hinge. The phone will feature a dual-camera setup with two 48MP cameras. It will likely have Touch ID instead of Face ID. Apple is also said to be working on special software features for the phone.
