iPhone Fold Might Not Go on Sale Until December, One Analyst Suggests
Have a very happy… iPhone Fold? Apple may not put its first foldable phone on sale before the end of the year, if an insider is to be believed.
Stock analyst Tim Long of Barclays said in a research note to the investment bank earlier this month that he expects Apple to start selling its first foldable phone in December, three months after previous reports suggested. So far, Long is the only one to advance this speculation. Long said supply chain issues could be the reason for the delay, according to MacRumors.
The vast majority of Apple watchers expect the Fold or Flip (neither is the official name) to be introduced and go on sale in September, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rumors and leaks are just that: rumors and leaks. While it is fun to speculate on these topics, they are not facts. Apple Insider is skeptical of Long’s claims of a December launch, citing Long’s incorrect predictions regarding the iPhone X and iPhone 16.
In his note to Barclays, Long reportedly speculated that Apple could also bring back the iPhone Plus in its iPhone 18 series in March 2027. The Plus model disappeared from Apple’s roster last September, where it was replaced by the ultra-slim iPhone Air. Reports show that iPhone Air sales have been weak – although our own CNET reviewer, Abrar Al-Heeti, “fell in love with it”. Currently, Long is also the only one speculating about the Plus’ return.
Most Apple watchers expect the company to launch the base model iPhone 18, budget iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 next March.
Apple is late to the party, so what?
Apple has yet to announce or confirm the launch of its first foldable phone, although many say it’s inevitable. The company is lagging behind competitors who have launched foldable devices in recent years, including the Motorola Razr Fold, Google Pixel 10 Pro foldable, OnePlus Openthat of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Xiaomi Mix Flip and others.
This discrepancy is why CNET thinks Apple must launch the foldable this year, Andrew Lanxon wrote that Apple “runs the risk of letting a rival like Samsung or Motorola become the go-to name in foldables.”
But given that Apple is Apple, being late to the party may not matter, says Counterpoint Research. The global technology analyst claims that Apple’s entry into the foldable space will “significantly reshape the competitive landscape” and that the foldable iPhone could capture 28% of the market after it enters the game.
There is a lot of speculation surrounding Apple’s potential. intriguing design elements for a folding or folding device. It might look like two iPhones linked together, and there might not be a crease, which has been a thorn in the side of foldable phone makers.
