Apple’s long absence from the foldable screen market is about to end. Multiple sources indicate that Apple has formulated an ambitious “foldable screen matrix” plan, expected to gradually launch multiple foldable devices starting in 2026, covering categories such as smartphones and laptops, aiming to lead a new wave of hardware form innovation.
Clear Product Launch Roadmap
Apple’s foldable products will be introduced to the market in phases, forming a complete product matrix.
According to the plan, Apple will first launch its inaugural foldable smartphone in the second half of 2026. This device, featuring a book-style foldable design, may have the internal codename iPhone Fold. It will be equipped with an inner screen measuring approximately 7.9 to 8 inches, with an unfolded size close to that of the current iPad mini. The primary mission of this product is to explore new interactive experiences of the iOS system in a foldable form and attempt to blur the boundaries between smartphones and tablets.
Following closely, Apple plans to release a vertically folding smartphone in 2027, potentially named iPhone Flip. This device will place greater emphasis on fashion and portability, creating a clear product distinction from the iPhone Fold to meet the diverse needs of different users. According to the latest electronic news, the industry is closely watching how these two models will differentiate themselves in the market.
More importantly, Apple is not confining the foldable form factor solely to smartphones. According to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the only foldable product with a clear development timeline at Apple is actually a foldable MacBook with a screen size as large as 20.3 inches. When fully unfolded, this device resembles a large-screen monitor, and in a half-folded state, the lower portion of the screen can transform into a virtual keyboard or control panel for professional software. The launch of this product may mark the beginning of deep integration between Apple’s Mac and iPad product lines.
Core Technological Breakthroughs Focusing on Reliability
The reason Apple has appeared cautious in the foldable screen field is that its R&D focus has consistently been on addressing the durability issues commonly found in current foldable devices. Judging from the publicly disclosed patent technologies, Apple is building its technological barriers from multiple fronts.
In the area of screen self-repair, Apple has developed a special screen surface material. This covering layer, made of elastomer, possesses the ability to automatically fill in scratches at a microscopic level. The device can also monitor the screen’s condition through a built-in transparent conductive network and actively promote the repair process through gentle heating during charging or idle periods, significantly extending the screen’s lifespan.
To tackle the challenge of foldable screens being easily damaged in low-temperature environments, Apple has designed an intelligent temperature control protection system. When the device’s sensors detect excessively low external temperatures, the system automatically activates the screen pixels or embedded micro heating elements to warm the screen material in the foldable area, preventing damage due to brittleness. Simultaneously, the hinge mechanism temporarily increases resistance or even locks, physically preventing users from forcibly unfolding the screen in cold conditions.
In the realm of physical protection, Apple has even conceptualized an active drop protection solution. Through precise motion sensors, the device can instantly detect when it is in free fall and trigger the hinge mechanism in a split second, causing the device to change its posture mid-air, allowing more robust parts of the body to absorb the impact and maximizing protecting the fragile flexible screen.
Strategically Driven by Multiple Factors
Apple’s decision to aggressively enter the foldable screen market around the 2026-2027 timeframe is a well-considered strategic move.
From a market dynamics perspective, the form innovation of traditional slab smartphones is nearing its limit, making it difficult to continue stimulating large-scale replacement enthusiasm. The brand new form represented by foldable screens is key to breaking the market deadlock and driving a new upgrade cycle.
From a supply chain condition standpoint, after years of development, upstream panel manufacturers (such as Samsung Display and LG Display) have made significant progress in flexible screen technology, hinge craftsmanship, and overall yield rates, enabling them to meet Apple’s high standards for product reliability and mass production.
Most crucially, Apple possesses its unique ecosystem advantage. Unlike the often-unsynchronized hardware-software adaptation in the Android camp, Apple can leverage its strong control over the operating system and developer ecosystem to ensure that, from the very first generation of foldable devices, users receive a system-level, deeply optimized software experience. This seamless integration of hardware and software will be Apple’s most powerful weapon in the foldable screen competition.
Looking ahead, Apple is attempting to redefine the form and boundaries of personal computing devices through a comprehensive foldable product matrix. From pocket-sized portable devices to desktop productivity tools, the foldable form factor will run through them all, offering users an unprecedented seamless experience.
