- Apple has apparently begun to prototype the foldable iPhone
- This leak repeats others by saying that a launch in 2026 is probably
- Developing a foldable iPad has apparently been a break
The folding iPhone has been rumored for years now, but it can finally become a reality, with the latest leakage suggesting that Apple has begun to produce prototypes.
These are, according to Digitimes (via @jukanlosreve), who claims Apple is aiming to end the prototype the foldable iPhone by the end of 2025. At that time, the unit goes in the technical verification test (possibly) phase before a launch in the second half of 2026.
It is in line with other recent foldable rumors on the iPhone release date and would probably mean the phone will land with the iPhone 18 series in September 2026.
But even though it is still a way away if the phone is really getting prototyped now, it is likely that we will soon start to see leaked pictures of the handset, giving us a much clearer idea of what it will look like.
There might not be a foldable iPad
However, not all good news for Apple’s foldable ambitions, because in another digitime report (also via @jukanlosreve) it is claimed that the company has paused the development of a foldable iPad.
Apparently, this is probably due to a combination of manufacturing difficulties, increased production costs and limited demand for larger folding units.
Last we heard, the folding iPad might land in 2027, but if this latest leak is accurate, then we probably won’t see until even later, if at all. The wording here suggests that it is possible that Apple will continue to develop the collapsible iPad at a later date, but it is unclear whether or when this will happen.
We would think it is likely that if the development has really been a break, the company will probably wait and see how the folding iPhone does before deciding whether to resume the development of a foldable iPad. In which case is such a device still probably at least a few years away – and can never show up.
