iPhone Fold is real and launching soon, but you may have to wait longer to buy it

Apple's first foldable iPhone has repeatedly entered early manufacturing at Foxconn facility, signalling that its long-awaited launch is getting closer. However, engineering challenges during testing could delay mass production and push back availability by months.

In Short

• Apple has started manufacturing the iPhone Fold
• But engineering issues in testing phase may delay shipments
• Apple likely prioritising foldable as part of its premium 2026 lineup

The year 2026 might finally be when Apple unveils its first-ever foldable device, aka the iPhone Fold. Chatter around Apple’s plans to enter the foldable segment has been circulating for years, but a clear timeline has remained elusive. While earlier reports did suggest a 2026 release, the latest developments almost bring in a confirmation of its arrival. According to reports from leakers Majin Bu and Instant Digital, the iPhone Fold has now entered the manufacturing phase at Foxconn.

While the device appears to be nearing launch, there are still some challenges to overcome. Apple is likely to introduce the iPhone Fold alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup later this year, possibly in September, but other reports suggest that availability could be delayed. According to a recent Nikkei Asia report, the company is running into more complex engineering challenges than initially anticipated. And these issues could potentially delay both mass production and shipments by months in a worst-case scenario.

According to the report, these issues are emerging during what is known as the engineering verification stage, a crucial phase where Apple tests early production units to iron out design and manufacturing issues. The report notes that “more issues than expected” have surfaced during this stage, requiring additional time to resolve and fine-tune the device before it can move forward in the production cycle. April and early May are said to be particularly critical for Apple to get things back on track.

In fact, this is not the first time we are hearing about possible delays. Earlier, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also suggested that while the iPhone Fold is almost ready to go into manufacturing, engineering snags could push back its availability, as Apple continues to refine the product.

Despite these setbacks, the launch of iPhone Fold is clearly underway. Separate reports, including insights from tipsters like Instant Digital and Majin Bu, suggest that Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn has already begun trial production of the foldable iPhone. Trial production typically comes just ahead of mass production and is used to validate manufacturing processes, provided no major issues emerge.

Apple’s 2026 iPhone launch roadmap

Meanwhile, 2026 is the 50th year for Apple and to celebrate this milestone, the company is expected to focus heavily on premium devices. The foldable iPhone is likely to be a key part of this year’s launch cycle. Reports suggest that Apple has already been reshuffling its 2026 iPhone roadmap to prioritise higher-end models like the foldable iPhone. The company may even delay the standard iPhone model to 2027 to better allocate key components such as memory chips and focus resources on premium offerings.

What to expect from the foldable iPhone

As for the device itself, the iPhone Fold is expected to feature a roughly 5.5-inch outer display and a larger 7.8-inch inner screen when unfolded, adopting a more iPad-like aspect ratio. The device could also come with certain design compromises, such as the absence of Face ID and a thinner form factor.

Apple is reportedly planning an initial production run of around 7 to 8 million units, a relatively small share of its overall iPhone lineup, but significant enough to test market response.

It is worth noting that Apple has not officially confirmed any of these developments. However, the growing number of reports strongly suggests that the iPhone Fold is closer to launch than ever before, even if consumers may have to wait a little longer to actually buy it.

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