Apple's foldable iPhone: A late 2026 launch, a price tag exceeding $2,000, and a titanium body with Touch ID

Apple's foldable iPhone: A late 2026 launch, a price tag exceeding $2,000, and a titanium body with Touch IDTF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently released a report predicting that Apple will launch its first foldable iPhone in late 2026 or early 2027, with an expected price exceeding $2,000 to $2,500. This highly anticipated device will boast a range of high-end specifications aimed at providing an unprecedented user experience

Apple's foldable iPhone: A late 2026 launch, a price tag exceeding $2,000, and a titanium body with Touch ID

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently released a report predicting that Apple will launch its first foldable iPhone in late 2026 or early 2027, with an expected price exceeding $2,000 to $2,500. This highly anticipated device will boast a range of high-end specifications aimed at providing an unprecedented user experience.

High-End Specifications: Building a "Truly AI-Driven Phone"

Kuo's report details the hardware specifications and market positioning of Apple's first foldable iPhone. The phone will be positioned as a "truly AI-driven phone," with its larger screen size significantly enhancing multitasking capabilities and AI application experiences. When interacting with AI chatbots, users can simultaneously view a complete map application interface, providing more intuitive and efficient operational feedback. This reflects Apple's anticipation of future AI device trends: multimodal and cross-application integration will become mainstream, and a larger screen is key to achieving this goal.

Screen and Body: Lightweight and Durable

To achieve a perfect balance of lightness and durability, the Apple foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch inner screen and a 5.5-inch outer screen. The folded thickness will be approximately 9-9.5 millimeters, reducing to 4.5-4.8 millimeters when unfolded. The body will be constructed from lightweight and robust titanium alloy, while the hinge will utilize a composite material of stainless steel and titanium alloy to ensure durability and stability during frequent folding and unfolding. This material choice not only reflects Apple's consistent pursuit of product quality but also suggests that this foldable iPhone will possess superior texture and longevity compared to its competitors.

Biometric Technology and Camera System: Innovation and Practicality

Given the limitations of thickness and space, Apple's first foldable iPhone will abandon Face ID facial recognition technology in favor of the more space-saving side-mounted Touch ID button. This shift reflects Apple's practicality and innovation in technology choices. While the removal of Face ID might raise concerns for some users, the return of side-mounted Touch ID provides a convenient and secure unlocking method. Furthermore, the device will feature a dual-lens rear camera and a front-facing camera on both the inner and outer screens to meet user needs in various shooting scenarios. While specific camera specifications haven't been released, given Apple's strength in imaging technology, the photographic capabilities of this foldable iPhone are undoubtedly worth anticipating.

Battery and Production Plan: Challenges and Opportunities

The Apple foldable iPhone will use the same high-density battery cells as its ultra-thin iPhones to ensure sufficient battery life. However, due to the complex manufacturing process of foldable phones and the high requirements for precision components, mass production of the first-generation foldable iPhone will face significant challenges. Kuo predicts that the final specifications for the first-generation foldable iPhone will be finalized in Q2 2025, with mass production officially starting in Q3 2025. Mass production is expected to be achieved in Q4 2026, but large-scale production may not happen until 2027.

Market Expectations and Sales Targets: High-End Positioning, High Price, High Profit

Kuo estimates that the price of the first-generation foldable iPhone will reach $2,000 to $2,500, making it one of the most expensive smartphones on the market. However, Kuo believes that with Apple's strong brand appeal and loyal customer base, as long as the product quality is excellent, even a high price will still drive strong market demand, making it a "must-have" item. He predicts shipments of 3 to 5 million units in 2026, and with the launch of the second-generation foldable iPhone in 2027, total shipments are expected to reach 20 million units. This indicates Apple's confidence in the market performance of this high-end product.

Conclusion: The Significance and Outlook of Apple's Foldable iPhone

Apple's entry into the foldable phone market marks the arrival of a heavyweight player in this rapidly developing field. The emergence of Apple's foldable iPhone will not only have a profound impact on the existing foldable phone market landscape but will also drive technological innovation and development across the industry. The high price point reflects Apple's confidence in its product quality and brand value. Although initial shipments may be relatively limited, with technological maturity and expanding production scale, Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to become a mainstream product in the coming years, providing users with a superior mobile experience. Its positioning as a "truly AI-driven phone" also suggests that future smartphones will move towards more intelligent, integrated, and personalized directions. Kuo's predictions paint a hopeful picture for the future development of Apple's foldable iPhone. However, with intense market competition, Apple needs to be fully prepared in terms of technological innovation, cost control, and marketing to ultimately achieve its market goals.

Summary of Kuo's Full Report:

• Market Positioning: A truly AI phone targeting the high-end market; Apple's brand premium and product quality will drive strong upgrade demand even at a high price.

• Hardware Specifications: Book-style foldable design with approximately a 7.8-inch inner screen (crease-free) and a 5.5-inch outer screen; Return of side-mounted Touch ID, removal of Face ID; Dual rear camera, one front-facing camera on each screen; Titanium alloy body, stainless steel and titanium alloy hinge; High-density battery cells, same as ultra-thin iPhones.

• Thickness: Approximately 9-9.5 mm when folded, approximately 4.5-4.8 mm when unfolded.

• Development Process: Final specifications for the first-generation foldable iPhone will be determined in Q2 2025, project officially starts in Q3 2025, mass production expected in Q4 2026; Second generation expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2027.

• Shipment Estimates: First-generation foldable iPhone: estimated shipments of 3-5 million units in 2026, total shipments (including the second generation) estimated at 20 million units in 2027.