Production on the iPhone Fold is behind schedule, but the device is still slated to launch in fall 2026, reports DigiTimes. The site says that production has been pushed back by "roughly one to two months," but Apple has not communicated any launch delays to suppliers. Apple is still planning for a 2026 launch, which suggests a tighter production schedule.


Apple planned to begin ‌iPhone Fold‌ mass production in June 2026, but mass production has now slipped to early August. Some rumors have suggested that Apple is having more manufacturing problems than expected with the Engineering Validation Test phase that the ‌iPhone Fold‌ is in right now, but other rumors suggest that won't lead to delays.

Last week, Japanese site Nikkei said that the engineering delays could cause Apple to delay the launch of the ‌iPhone Fold‌ until 2027, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the ‌iPhone Fold‌ remains on track to launch "around the same time" or "soon after" the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.

DigiTimes' report reconciles the two separate launch timing rumors, indicating that there is indeed a delay in the test phase, but Apple may be able to make up ground during the mass production phase. Prior to mass production, the ‌iPhone Fold‌ will still need to go through Design Validation Testing and Production Validation Testing.

A delay in the mass production timeline could cause serious supply chain shortages, and ‌iPhone Fold‌ availability is likely to be constrained. When we hear rumors about launch issues this early in an iPhone cycle, it typically leads to severe launch shortages and a device that sells out in minutes during pre-orders.

The ‌iPhone Fold‌ is expected to cost between $2,000 and $2,500. It will be Apple's first foldable device, with a 5.5-inch display when closed and a 7.8-inch display when open. More about the device can be found in our iPhone Fold roundup.
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Advances in optically clear adhesive (OCA) will be a key factor in achieving a near-invisible crease in Apple's first foldable iPhone expected later this year, according to TrendForce.


The supply chain intelligence firm outlined the key technologies in a new report on foldable display innovation, explaining that creases form when layers within the display panel fall out of alignment, concentrating stress at the fold and causing micro-cracks or permanent deformation over time.

Ultra-thin glass (UTG) also plays a role in the optimal design. Apple's patents have described a design where the glass is thinner at the fold for flexibility and thicker elsewhere for durability, which is an approach consistent with reports last year that Apple was testing uneven-thickness panels, and more recently that it may use a dual-layer glass structure to spread stress across multiple layers.

The single most important factor, TrendForce says, is OCA. Modern formulations go well beyond simple bonding, staying pliable during gradual bending to reduce fatigue while temporarily stiffening under sudden impact to provide structural support. Over time, the adhesive's ability to flow into microscopic irregularities also reduces light scattering and keeps the crease less visible.

Hinge and structural engineering still matter too. Samsung Display uses laser drilling in the metal support plate behind the display to balance rigidity and flexibility, a technique analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported last July that Apple's foldable would also use via supplier Fine M-Tec. Samsung briefly showcased a crease-free panel at CES 2026, though it later clarified this was an R&D concept rather than a production-ready design.

Apple has reportedly pursued eliminating the crease "regardless of cost", and leaker "Fixed Focus Digital" reported in February that production orders had been placed with a crease depth under 0.15mm and a crease angle under 2.5 degrees. TrendForce estimates Apple could capture close to 20% of the foldable smartphone market this year, which it says would compress Samsung and Huawei to roughly 30% each.

The foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Foxconn began trial production last week, and Samsung Display is reportedly on track to begin mass production of OLED panels for the device in May.
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Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is expected to feature a book-style form factor that's relatively uncommon in the foldables market, but Huawei's new Pura X Max appears to share a similar wide aspect ratio.


Set to be released in China next week, Huawei's new device actually builds upon a design used by the original, smaller Pura X, which was marketed last year as an extra-wide flip phone. Little is known about the Pura X Max beyond its triple lens rear camera, while Huawei's imagery shows the device being used in both portrait and landscape.

Prior to the Pura X Max's unveiling, Apple's rumored device was said to most resemble Oppo's Find N5. Samsung is also believed to be adopting a similar wide aspect ratio form factor for one of its upcoming foldables.

We've heard plenty of rumors about the foldable iPhone‌'s design, but the first alleged dummy models appeared last week. The device will have a 5.5-inch display when closed, making it Apple's smallest current-generation iPhone. When open, it will be around 7.8 inches, which is around half an inch smaller than the iPad mini.

Apple is expected to debut its first foldable alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, with a launch likely to shortly follow the Pro devices' release. Most rumors have suggested that the ‌foldable iPhone will start at around $2,000 and be available in traditional space gray/black and silver/white finishes.


One rumor claims that Apple will call it the "iPhone Ultra," rather than "iPhone Fold," which is the shorthand the media has largely been using.
This article, "New Huawei Foldable Looks a Lot Like Apple's Rumored iPhone Fold" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As we previously reported, astronauts aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft used the iPhone 17 Pro Max to take selfies of themselves with the Earth in the background during the Artemis II mission around the far side of the Moon last week.


Now that the crew members have safely returned to Earth, Apple's CEO Tim Cook and marketing chief Greg Joswiak have both turned to social media to congratulate them on their successful mission and highlight the iPhone's involvement.

"You captured the wonders of space and our planet beautifully, taking iPhone photography to new heights, and we're grateful you shared it with the world," wrote Cook. "Your work continues to inspire us all to think different. Welcome home!"


"Honored that NASA astronauts brought iPhone to space with them," said Joswiak. "One small step for iPhone. One giant leap for space selfies."

In February, NASA announced that the iPhone had been fully qualified for extended use in orbit, with reports indicating that each of the four crew members aboard the Orion were equipped with an iPhone 17 Pro Max for personal photos and videos.

The photos show Artemis II's Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch looking back at Earth through one of the Orion's main cabin windows. Flickr data indicates that these photos were shot with the iPhone 17 Pro Max's front-facing camera on April 2, which was the second day of the mission.


Most other photos from the mission shared so far were captured with other cameras, such as the Nikon D5, Nikon Z 9, and GoPro HERO4 Black.


Artemis II was NASA's first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. The crew reached the far side of the Moon on Monday, breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans. However, the Orion does not have landing capabilities, so it was a flyby mission only. The spacecraft returned to Earth on Friday.
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Rumors about Apple's first foldable iPhone are picking up now that the device has entered a new testing stage that precedes mass production. If you've been having trouble keeping up with what's new, we've recapped the latest iPhone Fold rumors that have come out over the last few weeks.

Naming

One rumor claims Apple will call its foldable iPhone the "iPhone Ultra," which doesn't seem out of the question. We've been referring to it as the ‌iPhone Fold‌ during the rumor cycle, but it's unlikely Apple will actually use that name.

Samsung already has the Galaxy Fold, and that would be too similar for Apple's tastes. Apple already uses the Ultra naming for the Apple Watch and for the version of CarPlay that more deeply integrates with in-car systems.

Given the $2,000+ pricing of the foldable iPhone, "Ultra" could make sense.

Design

We've heard plenty of rumors about the ‌iPhone Fold‌'s design, but the first alleged dummy models came out this week. We don't know if these are reflective of the ‌iPhone Fold‌'s actual design, but it has all of the design features that have been rumored, and the right sizing.



The foldable iPhone will have a ~5.5-inch display when closed, making it Apple's smallest current-generation iPhone. When open, it will be around 7.8 inches, so about a half-inch smaller than the iPad mini. It will have a wider 4:3 aspect ratio like an iPad, which is a design that will set it apart from other foldable smartphones on the market. Most foldable smartphones are taller, but Apple is going in a different direction.

There is a raised camera bump that does not span across the entire back of the device, which is expected. It has a two-lens camera system, and a thin chassis. Rumors suggest the ‌iPhone Fold‌ will be as thin as 4.5mm when open, which limits space for the camera. It's so thin that Apple won't be able to use the TrueDepth camera system, and it's going to have Touch ID instead of Face ID.

Release Timing

We've heard a lot of back and forth rumors on release timing over the last two weeks. Some rumors have suggested the ‌iPhone Fold‌ will be delayed past September because of late stage production issues, while others suggest it's on time for a September launch.

In March, a Barclays analyst suggested the ‌iPhone Fold‌ could be introduced in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, but launch later, perhaps as late as December.

Japanese site Nikkei said this week that Apple is running into so many issues that the ‌iPhone Fold‌ might be pushed until 2027, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the report is "off base." Gurman believes the ‌iPhone Fold‌ will be available for sale "around the same time" or "soon after" the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models.

If the ‌iPhone Fold‌ does launch in September alongside the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models, it's likely it will be in short supply. Reports agree that the device is complex and manufacturing isn't smooth sailing. In December, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said production challenges could cause supply shortages into 2027.

Pricing

Apple's foldable iPhone will "cross the $2,000 threshold," according to Gurman. It is not clear if $2,000 will be the starting price point, or if it will come with a lower price tag but have some higher-end configurations that exceed $2,000.

Most rumors have suggested that the ‌iPhone Fold‌ will start around $2,000, though there have been outliers that put the starting price upwards of $2,300.

Read More

There are plenty of other rumors about the foldable iPhone, including details about Apple's work on the hinge, the materials it'll be made of, what camera technology it will use, and more. We have a full iPhone Fold roundup with all of the rumors we've heard so far.
This article, "The Latest Foldable iPhone Rumors: What's Changed and What We Know Now" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has released iOS 26.4.1 for iPhone, along with ipadOS 26.4.1 for iPad, both to address unspecified bug fixes. Because no specific bug fixes are mentioned in the release notes or with the download, it’s unclear as of now what exactly has been addressed, but obviously Apple felt it important enough to issue a software ... Read More