Apple is poised to make one of the most impressive debuts in recent smartphone history. According to Counterpoint Research’s latest forecast, the company’s first foldable iPhone is expected to capture a remarkable 25% share of global foldable smartphone shipments in 2026 — its very first year (really, quarter) in the category — while helping propel the overall market to robust 21% year-over-year growth.

This is no ordinary product launch. In a segment long dominated by a handful of Android players, Apple is projected to debut in a clear second place, ahead of Huawei (24%) and closing the gap dramatically on market leader Samsung, whose share is forecast to decline from 40% in 2025 to 32%. Motorola and HONOR are expected to see further erosion of their positions, underscoring how Apple’s entry is poised to reshape the competitive landscape overnight.

Global Foldable Smartphone Shipment Share by OEM, 2025 vs 2026F

What makes this projection especially powerful is the nature of the demand Apple is expected to unlock. Counterpoint notes that Apple’s arrival will intensify competition specifically in the premium book-type foldable segment—the form factor that prioritizes productivity, multitasking, and expansive screen real estate over pure novelty. As AI features evolve beyond simple chat into everyday workflows such as document summarization, content editing, schedule management, and seamless cross-app information movement, a wider, more flexible canvas becomes essential. Apple’s anticipated design approach aligns perfectly with this shift, positioning the foldable iPhone as a natural extension of the company’s longstanding focus on refined user experience, seamless ecosystem integration, and premium craftsmanship.

Samsung is set to retain the overall lead for now, but the narrowing of its advantage to just seven percentage points over Apple highlights the disruptive force of Cupertino’s entry. Other brands that once held meaningful shares are projected to lose ground, illustrating how a single, highly anticipated Apple product can redefine market dynamics and accelerate category maturation.

The 21% growth forecast for the global foldable market in 2026 is itself a vote of confidence in the category’s future, and Counterpoint explicitly ties much of that expansion to Apple’s influence. By bringing its massive, loyal customer base, rigorous attention to durability and software optimization, and unmatched brand prestige into the foldable arena, Apple is expected to expand the total addressable market rather than merely redistribute existing demand. Premium book-style devices stand to benefit most, moving foldables further from experimental gadgets toward mainstream productivity tools.

For years, observers have waited for Apple’s carefully timed move into foldables. The Counterpoint numbers suggest that timing was deliberate and strategic. Rather than rushing to market, Apple appears positioned to enter with a product that not only claims a quarter of all foldable shipments in its first quarter, but also elevates the entire segment—raising expectations for design excellence, software polish, and real-world utility.

In short, 2026 is shaping up as the year the foldable smartphone market comes of age, and Apple is set to be one of its primary architects. Capturing 25% share on debut is more than a strong start; it is a clear signal that when Apple decides a category is ready, the industry—and consumers — take notice.
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MacDailyNews Take: And, in 2027, if they don’t actually exceed Counterpoint’s projection and claim the crown straight off in Q226, after a mere three months on the market, Apple’s iPhone will be No.1 in foldable smartphones. Apple’s well-heeled customer base guarantees it.

As with fingerprint and facial recognition, when Apple debuts a foldable iPhone, then foldable smartphones will have been done right. – MacDailyNews, January 17, 2019

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The post Apple’s foldable iPhone to grab 25% of foldable smartphone sales this year – Counterpoint Research appeared first on MacDailyNews.

The enthusiastic response to Samsung’s wide Galaxy Z Fold8 suggests Apple’s similarly shaped folding iPhone could become a big hit.

(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple is poised to enter the foldable smartphone market with its first folding iPhone, widely rumored to be branded as the iPhone Ultra (or simply “iPhone Fold”). Expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in September 2026, the device marks a major milestone in Apple’s mobile strategy after years of development focused on solving the durability issues that plagued early market rivals.

Design: Passport Profile, Titanium Frame, and Liquidmetal Hinge

• Form Factor: The device adopts a book-style horizontal fold (opening like a book) rather than a vertical flip form factor. When closed, it features a wider “passport-style” profile—more similar to the original Google Pixel Fold than Samsung’s narrower Z Fold series.

• Dimensions: Rumored chassis measurements point to an ultrathin design: roughly 4.5–4.8 mm unfolded and 9.0–9.5 mm folded.

• Liquidmetal & Hinge Tech: Apple is widely reported to be using Liquidmetal (bulk metallic glass) for key internal hinge components. Unlike standard crystalline metals, this alloy has an amorphous, glass-like atomic structure that offers exceptional elasticity, high yield strength, and superior wear resistance. This design choice allows the hinge to withstand hundreds of thousands of folds without loosening or deforming, while working alongside 3D-printed titanium support plates and chemically treated ultra-thin glass (UTG) to minimize screen creasing.

• Biometrics & Hardware: Due to the ultra-slim profile when unfolded, Face ID hardware may be replaced by a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button. Wireless charging and MagSafe compatibility are expected to remain, supported by a specialized back plate structure.

Display: Dual Screens Built for Multitasking

• Inner Display: A 7.7–7.8-inch flexible OLED panel with a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio, giving users an iPad mini-like workspace when unfolded.

• Outer Display: A 5.3–5.5-inch cover screen optimized for quick single-handed tasks when folded.

• Software Experience: The foldable runs a customized version of iOS with adaptive multitasking features designed for multi-window layouts and intermediate angle positions.

Performance and Hardware Specs

• Processor: Powered by Apple’s next-generation A20 chip (built on a 2nm process) and paired with Apple’s custom C-series cellular modem.

• Memory & Storage: Equipped with 12GB of RAM to handle heavy multitasking and Apple Intelligence on-device AI features.

• Battery: Features a split dual-battery design with a combined capacity of around 5,000–5,500 mAh—making it one of the largest battery systems ever put into an iPhone.

• Camera System: Expected to feature a premium multi-camera array engineered specifically for thin housings, utilizing advanced folded optics (periscope layout).

Pricing and Release Timeline

• Launch Window: Target release is September 2026 alongside the flagship iPhone 18 Pro lineup, though initial supply may be constrained.

• Price Point: Positioned as an ultra-premium flagship, pricing is expected to start between $2,000 and $2,500, placing it well above the Pro Max tier.
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MacDailyNews Take: Those who want to get their foldable iPhones before Christmas: Order in the first minute of pre-orders!

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The post Unfold the Future: Everything we know about Apple’s first folding iPhone appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple has significantly boosted its orders for vapor chamber cooling systems, primarily to support production of its highly anticipated first foldable iPhone, according to a Chinese supply chain leaker. The move also points to advanced thermal management in the company’s upcoming Twentieth Anniversary iPhone slated for 2027.

The information comes from the Weibo account “Fixed Focus Digital,” a source that has previously shared details about Apple’s foldable device. The increased orders will first go toward manufacturing the book-style foldable iPhone, internally referred to as the “iPhone Ultra,” which is on track for a September 2026 debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

Apple has reportedly instructed suppliers to prepare around 10 million units of the foldable iPhone for 2026, an increase from earlier projections of 7–8 million. This ramp-up signals strong confidence in the device’s production readiness despite the complexities of its folding mechanism.

Advanced Cooling for a Challenging Form Factor

Fixed Focus Digital previously indicated that the foldable iPhone would feature “impressive” vapor chamber cooling, with Apple “going all out” on its thermal design. This makes sense given the device’s expected thin profile when unfolded (rumored around 4.5–5mm) and the space constraints of a foldable chassis, which could limit traditional heat dissipation options.

Apple first introduced vapor chamber technology in the iPhone 17 Pro models last year. The system uses a small amount of deionized water to efficiently transfer heat away from the powerful A-series chip and spread it across the device’s aluminum frame, helping sustain high performance without thermal throttling.

The same cooling approach is now expected to extend to the foldable iPhone Ultra and potentially the 2027 anniversary iPhones, which are rumored to feature dramatic edge-to-edge displays with glass curving around all four sides for a nearly borderless look.

Broader Context and Timeline

The foldable iPhone is expected to include a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, an A20 chip, and a Touch ID power button, with pricing likely starting near $2,000. Recent reports confirm that mass production is underway, with key components like OLED panels already in production at Samsung Display.

Meanwhile, Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhones are planned for two sizes similar to the iPhone 18 Pro models. These devices could mark a major redesign, potentially returning to an all-glass enclosure.

MacDailyNews Take: This latest leak aligns with Apple’s aggressive push into new form factors while maintaining the performance and reliability standards users expect from its flagship devices. As the September launch approaches, more details on the iPhone Ultra’s final specifications are likely to emerge from the supply chain.

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Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone Ultra — the company’s first foldable smartphone — is generating significant buzz as its expected September launch approaches. A fresh leak shared today provides new details on the device’s battery specifications, offering a clearer picture of how Apple plans to power its ambitious foldable design.

According to a Weibo post from well-known leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple’s battery supplier has submitted regulatory filings for two battery cells rated at 1,921mAh and 2,962mAh. Combined, these cells deliver a total capacity of 4,883mAh. This dual-cell configuration aligns with common designs in existing foldable phones, where separate batteries are typically placed in the two halves of the device to optimize weight distribution and space.

For context, this capacity positions the iPhone Ultra competitively against current foldables:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: 4,400mAh total

• Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 5,015mAh

• Previous-generation Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 4,650mAh

While the iPhone Ultra’s total capacity falls between the Galaxy Z Fold7 and the latest Pixel Fold, real-world battery life will depend on numerous factors beyond raw mAh ratings. These include the efficiency of Apple’s custom silicon, the power demands of the foldable display (both when folded and unfolded), software optimizations in iOS, and overall device thickness and weight.

How It Compares to the Rest of the iPhone 18 Lineup

The same leak ecosystem has also revealed projected battery sizes for the standard iPhone 18 models, giving a broader view of Apple’s 2026 iPhone strategy:

• iPhone 18 Pro: ~4,288mAh (eSIM) or 4,056mAh (physical SIM) — modest gains over the iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 18 Pro Max: ~5,567mAh (eSIM) or 5,391mAh (physical SIM) — significantly larger than previous Pro Max models

• iPhone Ultra: 4,883mAh

The iPhone Ultra’s battery is notably smaller than the Pro Max’s, which makes sense given the engineering constraints of a foldable chassis. Apple is expected to prioritize thinness, durability of the hinge, and balanced weight over maximizing capacity.

Battery capacity represents just one piece of the puzzle. The iPhone Ultra’s unique form factor — featuring a large unfolded display — could introduce new power-management challenges and opportunities. Apple has a strong track record of delivering excellent battery life through tight hardware-software integration, so the final endurance figures may outperform what the raw numbers suggest.

MacDailyNews Take: The iPhone Ultra is rumored to launch alongside the iPhone 18 series in September 2026. While leaks continue to provide tantalizing details, official confirmation of specs, pricing, and real-world performance will only come from Apple itself at the launch event. Until then, the iPhone Ultra remains one of the most exciting product developments in Apple’s recent history!

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The post Apple iPhone Ultra foldable to feature 4,883mAh dual-cell battery, new leak claims appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Leaks have revealed plenty about the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone, but Apple’s biggest announcements may still be waiting for its September event.

(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)