Apple's iPhone Fold Launch Window Slides, Staggered Rollout Could Extend Into 2027

The iPhone Fold is rumoured to be among the devices that Apple will officially launch in September alongside the much-awaited iPhone 18 series. This is despite the fact that there have been little to no details about the company's first foldable device.

Hence, the rumoured launch could be nothing more than a teaser. It is likely to stir excitement, a way to entice consumers to start saving up and be ready once it is ready to be released. On that note, the next question is what the iPhone Fold release date would be.

Similar to the official specs of the iPhone Fold, little is known about what Apple's first foldable device will have. Hence, all those may only become official if the Cupertino company is truly launching the foldable device alongside its main flagships this autumn.

iPhone Fold Release Will Be Delayed

While the iPhone 18 series is likely to be made available immediately or after several weeks, the same cannot be assured with the iPhone Fold. According to Barclays analyst Tim Long, Apple's first foldable phone may launch no earlier than December 2026.

If true, this means that potential buyers will have to wait three months before they can get their hands on the iPhone Fold per MacRumors. However, the reliability of Long's take is a bit sketchy. He did not offer details on why it would come three months later. Also, he is the only one, for now, making this claim, AppleInsider noted.

Long's Apple Revelations Are Unreliable

It would be best to note that Long has not exactly been accurate when it comes to making forecasts on Apple and its devices. He has been wrong on several occasions. This includes:

• iPhone X demand in 2018
• iPhone 16 not reversing falling iPhone demand

Looking at it differently, the ploy of Apple delaying the iPhone Fold release makes a bit of sense. It allows the Cupertino company to focus solely on the iPhone 18 series and stir up some suspense for their first foldable phone.

With iPhone Fold features scarce, most of that could officially come out in September. Once out, it could get phone buyers thinking: should I get the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max or any variant now or wait for Apple's first-ever foldable device in the market?

Rumours About iPhone Fold Specs

For those curious about what the iPhone Fold may have to offer, the best details to rely on right now are the leaks. As previously reported here on IBT UK, rumours suggest that the Apple foldable phone will have 12GB of RAM with possibly 1TB of storage. If this holds, the iPhone Fold will have the same specs that the iPhone 17 Pro has.

Also, it was mentioned in that previous report that the iPhone Fold may come out with other storage options. It may come out with options for 256GB and 512GB storage capacities.

If these are truly the variants to choose from, Macworld also provided the possible pricing for each. They are:

• 256GB version – £1,509 ($1,999)
• 512GB version - £1,660 ($2,199)
• 1TB version - £1,811 ($2,399)

The price for each is undoubtedly steep. But considering foldable phones in the market are priced lavishly as well, the rumoured pricing range appears strategically aligned to ensure that Apple is properly positioned in the foldable phone market niche.