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James Rogerson
2 July 2025
The foldable iPhone may have taken another step towards release
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The iPhone 16 Pro Max
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Apple has apparently begun prototyping the foldable iPhone
This leak echoes others in saying a launch in 2026 is likely
However, development of a foldable iPad has apparently been paused
The foldable iPhone has been rumored for years now, but it might finally be becoming a reality, with the latest leak suggesting Apple has begun producing prototypes.
This is according to DigiTimes (via @Jukanlosreve), which claims that Apple aims to finish prototyping the foldable iPhone by the end of 2025. At that point, the device will enter the Engineering Verification Test (EVT) phase, before a launch in the second half of 2026.
That’s in line with other recent foldable iPhone release date rumors, and would likely mean that the phone lands alongside the iPhone 18 series in September of 2026.
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iPhone and iPad foldables are again predicted for next year – but I’m not convinced Apple is in such a rush
iPhone Fold tipped to be an annual release and take flagship baton from Pro Max – with a price tag to match
Apple’s foldable iPhone is tipped to beat the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold in two key ways
But while that’s still a way off, if the phone really is being prototyped now, it’s likely that we’ll start seeing leaked images of the handset soon, which should give us a much clearer idea of what it will look like.
There might not be a foldable iPad
The iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) (Image credit: Future)
It’s not all good news for Apple’s foldable ambitions, though, because in another DigiTimes report (also via @Jukanlosreve), it’s claimed that the company has paused development of a foldable iPad.
Apparently, this is likely due to a combination of manufacturing difficulties, increased production expenses, and limited demand for larger foldable devices.
Last we heard, the foldable iPad was possibly going to land in 2027, but if this latest leak is accurate, then we probably won’t see it until even later, if at all. The wording here suggests it’s possible Apple will continue developing the foldable iPad at a later date, but it’s unclear if or when this will happen.
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We’d think it’s likely that if development really has been paused, the company will probably wait and see how the foldable iPhone does before deciding whether to resume developing a foldable iPad. In which case, such a device is still probably at least a few years away – and may never emerge.
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James Rogerson
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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.
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iPhone and iPad foldables are again predicted for next year – but I’m not convinced Apple is in such a rush
iPhone Fold tipped to be an annual release and take flagship baton from Pro Max – with a price tag to match
Apple’s foldable iPhone is tipped to beat the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold in two key ways
The iPhone Fold is apparently being tested with a feature we’ve been waiting years for
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