A foldable iPhone, according to the research firm TrendForce, is not expected from Apple before 2027, a delay that sits within a category still small enough to be easily overlooked. Foldables make up roughly one and a half percent of phones sold today, and the firm expects that share to reach near five percent by 2028. Apple's caution, rooted in its strict standards for screen creases and long-term reliability, suggests that when the company finally enters, it will be less a newcomer than a force capable of reshaping a market others have been building for years.
Foldable iPhone Unlikely Before 2027, but Apple's Entry Could Reshape the Market
A foldable iPhone, according to the research firm TrendForce, is not expected from Apple before 2027, a delay that sits within a category still small enough to be easily overlooked. Foldables make up roughly one and a half percent of phones sold today, and the firm expects that share to reach near five percent by 2028. Apple's caution, rooted in its strict standards for screen creases and long-term reliability, suggests that when the company finally enters, it will be less a newcomer than a force capable of reshaping a market others have been building for years.
A foldable iPhone is not coming soon, according to TrendForce, the Taiwanese research firm, which says Apple is unlikely to release one before 2027. Its report also argues that once Apple does arrive, the impact on the market could be substantial.
For now, the category is small. Foldables account for about 1.5 percent of smartphones, a figure TrendForce expects to grow to 4.8 percent by 2028. That growth is real, but it would still leave foldables a modest part of overall sales.
Apple appears to be waiting for the details to satisfy it. The company is reportedly still assessing component specifications and performance, and applying strict standards for crease and reliability. Creasing remains a known weakness on many current foldables, raising doubts about durability and the risk of debris getting inside.
Apple would be joining a crowded field that includes Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, and Nubia, all of which have found buyers. TrendForce does not see the late start as a disadvantage, pointing instead to Apple's market influence and loyal customer base, which could make a foldable iPhone popular quickly.
The first Apple foldable may not be a phone. Analysts widely expect a large-screen foldable iPad or MacBook to come first, with a higher-volume foldable iPhone following. These are projections rather than announcements, so the timing and forecasts remain estimates to be tested against Apple's display standards.
A foldable iPhone is not coming soon. That is the conclusion of TrendForce, the Taiwanese research firm, which says Apple is unlikely to release one before 2027. The same report argues that when Apple does arrive, the effect on the market could be large.
The starting point is how small the category still is. Foldable phones account for roughly 1.5% of the smartphone market today. TrendForce projects that figure will climb to 4.8% by 2028. That is meaningful growth, but it would still leave foldables a small slice of overall sales.
Why is Apple waiting? According to the report, the company is still evaluating component specifications and performance, and it is applying strict requirements for crease and reliability. Screen creasing is a known problem on many foldables now on sale. It raises concerns about how well the displays hold up over time and about the risk of damage from debris getting into the device.
Apple would not be entering an empty field. Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, and Nubia have all produced foldables that have found an audience. Even so, TrendForce does not treat Apple's late arrival as a handicap. The firm points to the company's market influence and its established customer base, which it says could make a foldable iPhone popular quickly once it ships.
On that reasoning, analysts believe Apple's move into foldables could, in the report's words, significantly shift market dynamics. The suggestion is that Apple's weight, more than any technical lead, is what could rearrange a category where competitors have been working for years.
The first Apple foldable may not be a phone at all. Apple is widely expected to begin with a large-screen foldable iPad or MacBook, using that device to establish itself in the category. A higher-volume foldable iPhone would follow afterward.
The report is analyst projection rather than anything Apple has announced, so the 2027 timing and the market forecasts remain estimates. What to watch is whether Apple's display requirements, particularly around creasing and durability, are met, and whether a foldable iPad or MacBook appears first.
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