Apple’s long-rumored folding iPhone — expected to be one of the most significant new product launches in years — is generating strong buzz, with a respected analyst warning that consumer interest could far outpace Apple’s ability to supply the device when it hits the market.
And a separate report may have revealed the sizes of the two screens coming in the first foldable iOS device. The large internal display is what’s expected to drive demand.
Folding iPhone could be hard to get for months
Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is expected to mark the company’s biggest design shift since the original iPhone, combining a pocket-friendly exterior with a large, flexible OLED display that unfolds into a tablet-like experience. The device is widely expected to run a customized version of iOS optimized for multitasking and split-screen apps.
However, production challenges are already casting a shadow over the launch. Veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with TF International Securities warns of early production difficulties, potentially leading to supply shortages stretching into 2027.
“Development of the foldable iPhone is behind earlier expectations, but the product is still expected to announce in 2H26,” said Kuo. “Due to early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges, smooth shipments may not occur until 2027. With limited supply and expected strong demand, the foldable iPhone could be facing shortages until at least the end of 2026.”
Making a durable foldable iPhone
Early reports suggest Apple is focusing heavily on durability, with a refined hinge mechanism, a minimized screen crease and premium materials designed to meet the company’s usual longevity standards. But the durable hinge adds significantly to the complexity of producing the product and the possible production slowdown that Kuo warns of.
Still, a top-quality product is critical. There’s no chance of a folding iPhone going mainstream if it includes an unsightly screen crease and/or a flimsy hinge. It’s better for demand to exceed supply than for Apple to make boatloads of a product that no one is interested in.
As it is, buyers may encounter long wait times and limited availability at launch. Early adopters could find the foldable iPhone selling out quickly, with stock replenished weeks or months later.
Both an iPhone and an iPad
Rumors indicate the folding iPhone will use a book-like shape with a vertical hinge. A report on Tuesday indicated that the inner folding screen will be 7.7 inches, while a 5.3-inch outer screen will be usable without opening the clamshell.
Currently, the largest display in an iPhone is 6.9 inches, and the foldable iPhone will supposedly jump up to nearly the screen size of the original iPad mini. That’s the appeal: a tablet that fits in a pocket.
Plenty of demand for iPhone
Users are eager for a premium, large-screen iPhone experience, especially at a time when traditional smartphone upgrades have slowed industry-wide. The design for Apple’s Pro Max models hasn’t changed much in five or six years.
And while the folding iPhone is expected to be expensive — up to $2,000 — Apple’s strong performance with its latest iPhone 17 models underscores the ongoing consumer appetite for high-end devices.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
