Foldable iPhone Reportedly Planned for 2026 With Four Cameras

Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone may finally have a launch window. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and multiple analyst reports, the company is targeting a fall 2026 debut for the device. Early details point to a book-style foldable with four cameras, a return of Touch ID, and Apple’s own cellular modem.

A Foldable With Four Cameras

Leaks suggest the foldable iPhone will feature a total of four cameras: one on the outer display, a front-facing sensor on the inside for use when unfolded, and two rear cameras.

Industry analysts believe the back module will pair a high-resolution main sensor with either an ultra-wide or a telephoto lens. The arrangement would allow the foldable to function much like a traditional iPhone in both folded and unfolded modes, without sacrificing photography features.

Touch ID Instead of Face ID

Apple appears to be bringing back Touch ID for authentication. Reports indicate a fingerprint reader will likely be built into the side button, replacing Face ID. The reasoning comes down to space constraints: the foldable’s slim profile cannot accommodate the large TrueDepth system that Face ID requires.

Supporting Face ID would mean installing two separate setups for folded and unfolded use, something Apple reportedly ruled out. Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expect the device to measure between 9 and 9.5mm thick when folded, and under 5mm when open, potentially making it the thinnest iPhone to date.

Connectivity and Design Choices

On the connectivity front, the foldable will reportedly use Apple’s second-generation C2 modem and ship as an eSIM-only device, eliminating a physical SIM slot entirely. Early leaks also suggest a limited color lineup at launch, with only black and white options available.

Display technology is another focus. Apple has reportedly shifted from on-cell to in-cell panels during testing, which could help reduce the crease that plagues most foldables today. Kuo has gone further, suggesting a new laser-drilled display plate may deliver what he calls a “crease-free” viewing experience.

Release Window and Pricing

Supply chain chatter points to production ramping up in early 2026, setting the stage for a fall release. Pricing, however, remains uncertain. With premium Android foldables already landing between $1,800 and $2,000, analysts caution that Apple’s entry into the category will likely come at a similar or higher cost.

Part of Apple’s Larger Roadmap

The foldable iPhone is said to be just one piece of Apple’s upcoming product roadmap. In 2025, reports suggest Apple plans to introduce an “iPhone Air,” a slimmer model expected to replace the current Plus line.

Then, in 2027, the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, the company is rumored to be preparing a major design overhaul, including curved glass edges and a departure from the flat-sided aesthetic it has used since the iPhone 12.

If accurate, the 2026 foldable would mark Apple’s first major shift in iPhone form factor since the iPhone X. Whether it proves to be a turning point for the lineup may come down to how Apple balances durability, thinness, and price against rivals who already have years of foldable experience.

Would a foldable iPhone matter to you, or has Apple missed the moment? Let us know below.