Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman spilled some more details about the upcoming foldable iPhone in his Power On newsletter today.
He says the foldable iPhone will open like a book to reveal a larger inner display, like many Android foldables. The foldable iPhone will feature a total of four cameras, one on the front screen, one on the inside and two on the back. It will also use Touch ID for biometrics and use Apple’s in-house cellular modem for connectivity.
The inclusion of four cameras supports the multifunctional form factor. A foldable iPhone could be used much like a regular iPhone when closed, with an outward-facing touchscreen in the 5-6 inch range.
This will have an accompanying front-facing camera. A presumably higher-resolution main rear camera can be used for taking the best photos.
The second rear camera would be for either ultra-wide or telephoto shots; it’s unclear which right now.
And when unfolded to reveal the large 8-inch internal screen, the fifth camera lens serves as the active selfie camera.
The use of Touch ID in a flagship iPhone may sound weird at first, given that all other iPhones have moved on to Face ID. However, the foldable has strict thinness requirements, so the device isn’t too bulky when closed. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the device will measure about 9.5mm when closed, so each half is less than 5mm thick, thinner than any previous iPhone to date.
The complicated TrueDepth camera system required for Face ID will simply not fit inside such a thin enclosure. As such, Apple will use Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the side button instead for easy authentication and device unlock.
The Apple C1 modem debuted in the iPhone 16e. This chip will also appear in the slim iPhone 17 Air model. Next year, Apple will launch its next-generation C2 modem, which supports faster speeds. The C2 modem is what will be included in the Apple foldable device. The 2025 iPhone 17 Air and the 2026 foldable iPhone will also lack a SIM card slot on all models; current iPhones have SIM card slots in regions outside of the U.S.
As Apple’s first foldable device, it will undoubtedly be a popular model. However, exactly how popular depends on pricing. Even high-end Android foldable phones cost upwards of $1800, and you certainly shouldn’t expect Apple’s entrant to be cheaper than that.
According to Gurman, Apple will only offer black or white color options for its first foldable launch. Suppliers will start ramping up production early next year for a consumer fall release.
So, that’s what coming in 2026. The year after, Apple will redesign the standard pro iPhone with a brand new all-glass design.
But for this year, expect a more muted affair. The iPhone 17 lineup will look almost identical to the current iPhone 16 models from the front. From the back, there’s a new rectangular design for the protruding camera module. The iPhone 17 Air is a new addition to the line which will be strikingly thin, however.
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