Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Earlier rumors indicated Apple would launch a foldable iPhone resembling a Galaxy Z Flip as early as 2026.
- A brand new rumor means that the corporate may very well launch a Galaxy Z Fold rival within the second half of 2026.
- It’s too early to inform what Apple’s first foldable will appear like or whether or not it would expertise delays.
Whereas triple-screen foldable phones have already hit the market, Apple has but to launch its first vanilla folding machine. Initially, rumors steered the iPhone maker would launch a Galaxy Z Flip rival as quickly as 2026. Nonetheless, a good show analyst is now claiming that 2026’s Apple foldable will, in reality, compete towards the Galaxy Z Fold.
When requested in regards to the kind issue of Apple’s 2026 foldable, show analyst Ross Younger replied with “Fold.” This implies that the rumored Galaxy Z Flip rival might not launch that yr in any case. As a substitute, the iPhone maker will seemingly launch a tool that folds on a vertically-positioned hinge throughout 2026’s second half.
If Apple opts for Galaxy Z Flip competitor, it would seemingly run an optimized model of iOS, much like the one fueling current iPhones. However, a Galaxy Z Fold-like machine might run an iteration of iPadOS that takes benefit of the bigger display and helps extra superior multitasking options. For reference, iPhones nonetheless don’t help multi-window views, so operating the identical restrictive iOS on a Fold rival could be nonsensical.
Given how Apple usually operates, it’s difficult to foretell what foldable, if any, will launch in 2026. In any case, the corporate has reportedly confronted some challenges in creating a sturdy product that meets its excessive requirements. So, it might change its plans throughout the subsequent two years or axe them altogether.