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After years of rumours, Apple could finally be ready to launch its foldable iPhone. The device is expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, giving Apple one of its most interesting iPhone lineups in years. Here\u2019s a roundup of everything we know (or we think we know) about Apple\u2019s upcoming iPhones.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nList of rumours<\/p>\n
<\/default:svg><\/button><\/p>\n\n1. New iPhone release cycle<\/li>\n 2. Variable aperture lens and other potential camera upgrades<\/li>\n 3. Apple\u2019s C2 modem<\/li>\n 4. Bolder colour options<\/li>\n 5. Apple\u2019s first foldable iPhone<\/li>\n 6. A premium-quality hinge<\/li>\n 7. Achieving the impossible – invisible crease<\/li>\n 8. Foldable iPhone\u2019s rumoured specs<\/li>\n 9. iOS overhaul for the foldable form factor<\/li>\n 10. Impact of global memory chip shortage on prices and stock availability<\/li>\n 11. Launch event, pre-order and availability<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\nNew iPhone release cycle<\/h2>\n\nThose waiting for the regular iPhones will have to wait a couple more months.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
You might be wondering why the standard iPhone 18 models are missing from our headline, and why we haven\u2019t mentioned them until now. Well, Apple is reportedly changing the iPhone\u2019s release strategy from this year onwards.<\/p>\n
Under the new staggered release cycle, Apple is expected to unveil its flagship iPhone models in September, while pushing the launch of the standard and entry-level models to the first quarter of the following year. A key Apple supplier reportedly confirmed this when revealing to shareholders that a major US client had postponed the launch of a new product to Q1 2027.<\/p>\n
If this is true, it means the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with the iPhone Air 2 and Apple\u2019s first foldable iPhone, could take centre stage later this year, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will only arrive several months later.<\/p>\n
Apple reportedly has both supply chain and sales considerations behind the staggered launch. Introducing all six new iPhone models at once could place greater pressure on component supplies and production capacity, particularly with the added complexity of the first foldable iPhone.<\/p>\n
Spreading the launches across the year could also help Apple keep each model in the spotlight for longer. Rather than having six new iPhones compete for attention at the same time, the staggered approach gives each lineup additional time in the limelight to sustain consumer interest and sales.<\/p>\n
Variable aperture lens and other potential camera upgrades<\/h2>\n\nThe Apple iPhone 18 Pro models may gain a variable aperture lens this year. Pictured here are the rear cameras of the iPhone 17 Pro.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Variable aperture lenses are nothing new in the smartphone world. Samsung introduced the technology with the Galaxy S9 back in 2018, and several manufacturers have continued to experiment with it, including Huawei with last year\u2019s Mate 80 Pro Max. Now, Apple is reportedly ready to join the fray with the iPhone 18 Pro models.<\/p>\n
A variable aperture lets you control how much light reaches the camera sensor<\/b>, making it useful when shooting in different lighting conditions. It can also provide greater control over depth of field, giving photographers more flexibility over how much of a scene appears in focus.<\/p>\n
Of course, Apple isn\u2019t known for simply following a feature trend. If the rumours are accurate, the more interesting question is what new tricks the iPhone 18 Pro can pull off with a variable aperture system. Could Apple\u2019s computational photography and AI capabilities unlock new possibilities beyond what we\u2019ve seen on other smartphones?<\/p>\n
Aside from the variable aperture lens, Apple could equip the iPhone 18 Pro with an \u201cultra-large\u201d main camera sensor<\/b>. With a<\/b> larger sensor, the iPhone 18 Pro can capture more light and deliver better low-light performance, improved dynamic range, and faster shutter speeds.<\/p>\n
There are also rumours about improved optical image stabilisation<\/b> coming to the ultra-wide lens, and a leap to a 200MP periscope telephoto lens<\/b>.<\/p>\nApple\u2019s C2 modem<\/h2>\n\nApple may equip the iPhone 18 Pro with the next-generation C2 modem. Pictured here is the C1 modem. Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Apple is reportedly preparing its next-generation C2 modem for the iPhone 18 Pro, following the debut of the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e.<\/p>\n
Since the C1 is touted as the most power-efficient modem ever used in an iPhone, the C2 is likely to build on that strength with further improvements in power efficiency<\/b>.<\/p>\n
However, mobile network speeds may not see a dramatic leap, particularly if Apple continues to omit mmWave 5G due to its higher power consumption.<\/p>\n
Bolder colour options<\/h2>\n\nThe iPhone 18 Pro dummy units in light blue, black, silver and dark cherry. Photo: @SonnyDickson<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Apple broke with tradition when it introduced the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange, and it appears the company isn\u2019t done experimenting with bolder colours. For the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple is reportedly testing a range of unconventional finishes, including deep red, purple, and brown.<\/p>\n
Dummy units obtained by tipster @SonnyDickson reportedly show four colour options: light blue, black, silver, and dark cherry<\/b>. Of the four, the dark cherry finish is likely to be the most eye-catching and could become the signature colour of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup\u2014much like Cosmic Orange is for the current generation.<\/p>\nApple\u2019s first foldable iPhone<\/h2>\n\nThe foldable iPhone dummy unit suggests that Apple could adopt a wider, book-style design form factor. Photo: Sonny Dickson<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
After years of rumours, Apple\u2019s long-awaited entry into the foldable phone market could finally become a reality. Rather than simply replicating existing designs, Apple is reportedly taking a different approach with a wider but shorter form factor.<\/p>\n
To be clear, the wider design isn\u2019t entirely new. Huawei was among the first to experiment with this approach with the Pura X, while Samsung recently followed suit with the Galaxy Z Fold8. In our hands-on experience with the Galaxy Z Fold8, we found the shorter dimensions made it feel more natural to use, particularly when reaching across the screen with one hand. Its wider proportions also make it less awkward to carry in a pocket compared with a taller, more elongated foldable.<\/p>\n
Apple may therefore not be the first to embrace the passport-style design. Still, it is reportedly looking to differentiate its foldable iPhone in two key areas: the hinge and the display<\/b>. These could ultimately be the features that give Apple\u2019s first foldable its edge in an increasingly crowded market.<\/p>\nA premium-quality hinge<\/h2>\n\nAll eyes are on the hinge.<\/p>\n
Photo: AI-generated image<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
As the mechanical backbone of a foldable phone, the hinge plays a crucial role in determining how smoothly the flexible display folds and unfolds. It also controls how the phone holds at different angles while helping to protect the internal components from dust and other contaminants.<\/p>\n
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple will use liquid metal<\/b> for the hinge of its first foldable iPhone. The material is reportedly chosen for its ability to improve durability, keep the display flatter when unfolded, and minimise the appearance of crease marks.<\/p>\n
The choice of material could give Apple another opportunity to differentiate its foldable from the competition. For comparison, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses a combination of multi-alloy steel and aerospace-grade aluminium alloy for its hinge. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is stated to use a highly durable material for its Armor FlexHinge.<\/p>\n
Achieving the impossible – invisible crease<\/h2>\n\nThe OPPO Find 6N\u2019s crease is one of the least noticeable, can Apple match it?<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Apple may have found a way to solve one of the biggest complaints about foldable phones: the crease<\/b>. Multiple reports claim that Apple has worked with Samsung Display<\/b> and Amphenol<\/b> to develop a foldable display with an almost invisible crease, potentially giving its first foldable iPhone a significant advantage over existing rivals.<\/p>\n
The iPhone maker has reportedly been testing several display technologies, including ultra-thin flexible glass (UFG)<\/b> and optically clear adhesive (OCA)<\/b>. Samsung\u2019s showcase of a crease-less foldable OLED panel at CES 2026 could also be another technology being considered for Apple\u2019s foldable iPhone.<\/p>\n
UFG panels can distribute bending stress more evenly across the display, which could help minimise the formation of visible creases over prolonged use. OCA, meanwhile, can help reduce microscopic irregularities between display layers, limiting light scattering and making any remaining crease less noticeable.<\/p>\n
If the reports are accurate, Apple could turn one of the most obvious compromises of foldable phones into one of its biggest selling points. Of course, keeping the screen crease-free after thousands of folds is another matter.<\/p>\n
Foldable iPhone\u2019s rumoured specs<\/h2>\n\nExpect the foldable iPhone to use learnings from the iPhone Air to keep it slim. Pictured here is the 5.6mm thick iPhone Air.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 5- to 6-inch cover display<\/b> and an 8-inch foldable main display<\/b>. The device could also pack four cameras: one on the cover display, one on the inner foldable display, and two on the rear.<\/p>\n
To keep the foldable iPhone thin, Apple is reportedly opting for Touch ID built into the side button<\/b> instead of Face ID. The chassis is also rumoured to be made from titanium alloy<\/b>, although Apple’s decision to switch back to aluminium for the iPhone 17 lineup makes the material choice less certain.<\/p>\n