Apple’s iPhone Fold Leap: No Notch, No Island, Just A Bold New Future
Apple might bring back the Touch ID, but as a side-mounted button this time around.
After years of playing the long game, Apple appears ready to make its grand entrance into the foldable smartphone arena — and it’s doing so with some surprising twists. If the latest whispers from supply chain insiders and credible tipsters are to be believed, the company’s first foldable iPhone could defy expectations in ways that go beyond just a bendable screen.
Punch-Hole Over Notch? Apple Rethinks Display Design
One of the most notable changes involves the iPhone Fold’s display strategy. According to prominent Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, as reported by Gizmochina, Apple may finally be saying goodbye to its iconic notch. The external display, reportedly a 5.5-inch panel, is tipped to feature a punch-hole cutout for the front camera, marking a dramatic shift from the notch and Dynamic Island designs seen on current iPhones.
Even more ambitious is the rumoured plan for the internal display. The 7.8-inch inner screen, expected to be crease-free, could integrate an under-display camera. If true, this move would give users a truly uninterrupted viewing experience — something few smartphone makers have successfully executed so far.
Touch ID Returns — But Not How You’d Expect
In another callback to Apple’s past, the company is said to be bringing back Touch ID. But unlike the fingerprint sensors buried beneath screens on many Android devices, Apple may instead integrate it into the side-mounted power button, similar to the iPad Air. This design decision likely reflects the engineering challenges of fitting Apple’s Face ID module into the limited real estate of a foldable form factor.
Development Accelerates Toward 2026 Launch
Signs are mounting that Apple is serious about launching this device sooner rather than later. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the company is aiming to finalise the hardware design by June. Meanwhile, Jeff Pu reports that the foldable iPhone has already entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn, indicating that a prototype is now being refined. Mass production is reportedly planned for the fourth quarter of 2026, with a commercial release potentially timed for late next year.
The first-generation iPhone Fold isn’t expected to come cheap. Industry chatter places the expected price range between $2,000 and $2,300, firmly placing it in the ultra-premium segment. Still, given Apple’s brand pull and the excitement around its long-awaited entry into the foldables space, early adopters might not flinch.
“Apple seems determined to fold the future its way,” notes Digital Chat Station, hinting that Cupertino’s take on foldables could set new benchmarks rather than simply follow the crowd.
What Else Is Brewing? Anniversary iPhone Rumours Heat Up
Beyond foldables, the company’s 20th anniversary iPhone is also making headlines. Leaks suggest a radically redesigned device with a bezel-free display, no visible cutouts, and a new silicon-based battery, fueling speculation that Apple is gearing up for a transformative hardware cycle across its entire lineup.
Whether these innovations will live up to the hype remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Apple isn’t just folding under pressure — it’s folding with intent.
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