Apple’s foldable iPhone won’t launch until at least H2 2026. Yet, the company is seemingly already optimistic about its demand, raising its shipment forecast.
A reputed Apple analyst says Apple has bumped its 2026 and 2027 shipment forecasts by a few million units.
Analyst predicts strong demand for foldable iPhone
Foldable phones have been making steady technological improvements, with this year’s models breaking thinness records. Samsung launched the world’s thinnest foldable this year with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, while Google introduced the first foldable to carry an IP68 rating. Apple is missing from the foldable space, but all signs point to this changing next year.
The long-rumored foldable iPhone should launch in September 2026. And Apple already expects heavy demand for it. In his latest investor note, TF International Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo says the company has revised the foldable iPhone shipment forecast for 2026 and 2027.
Instead of 6-8 million units, the company now apparently expects to ship 8-10 million foldables in 2026. And for 2027, it has increased the estimate to 20-25 million, up from its initial estimate of 10-15 million.
Kuo also expects Apple to ship 0.5-1 million units of the foldable iPad, which is on track for a 2028 launch.
Apple wants to speed up hardware development
Apple has fallen behind its competitors in both AI and hardware innovation. Apple Intelligence lacks any compelling features, while Google keeps adding impressive new Gemini-powered features to its Pixel devices and Android.
Kuo says there’s a “sense of urgency” inside Apple. And so, apart from focusing on its AI efforts, the company will once again focus on hardware innovation from 2026.
The rumored Vision Air and the foldable iPhone are prime examples of this renewed hardware push
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
