In the 2020s, Samsung has taken over as the premier company that releases foldable phones. Of course, they are not alone in that, but they are the most prominent company that has made the foldable a priority.
That has led Apple to release a similar product, so it can compete on the top level of smartphones yet again. Now, 2026 could be the year when Apple delivers on that, as its foldable is reportedly set to release in 2026.
The design will be similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold
The design for Apple’s foldable will be similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold. That means it will be a notebook-style foldable that users can treat as a phone most of the time, but it can also turn into a tablet-sized device. It is ideal when consuming content like video or reading the latest Stake news, as it allows more room to see the whole thing.
This is a departure from the iPhone’s set aesthetic, which involves a classic slate phone without any creases or anything. With the foldable iPhone, users get the classic slate phone at first, but it can fold outward to become a tablet-sized phone. Apple has all the tools to make that seamless, given that they have iOS and iPad OS powering its devices.
No reports have suggested that Apple has plans to compete against Samsung on the Flip side of the market. That means the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola Razr will remain as the top dogs in that space.
Apple will release it at around US$2,000
While it might sound like an exorbitant price, the big foldable phones are usually set at US$2,000. Apple will need to release this kind of product at such a price point, considering the manufacturing costs and the market value found with other products like the Z Fold and the OPPO Find N series.
That is the standard price for this product, which might be high, but the foldables are meant for the power users. They are willing to spend a lot of money to get this kind of phone, especially if they have iOS running on it.
The foldable market will be competitive for Apple
Samsung is not the only competitor Apple must face in the foldable space. Remember, Apple is entering this market late, so they must usurp other top players in the space, like OPPO, VIVO, and other phone companies in the Chinese market.
Apple is popular in China, but foldables are tougher to market when users already admire the established products. Standards are high for foldable phones compared to when they were first released in the early 2020s. Now that Apple has laid out plans to release a foldable, they will be judged by today’s standards for foldables.
That is immense pressure on Apple’s design and manufacturing teams. They must make a good impression from the jump to keep this project going. Apple could transition into making other foldable products or segmenting them across multiple years, like what they plan on doing with the Apple Vision Pro.
In the meantime, the wait is on for the 2026 unveiling of the foldable iPhone. It will be a big-time media machine where you can use your Stake account, play games, or watch videos on the go.