It appears almost certain that a foldable iPhone will launch, potentially as soon as late next year, yet specifics on its design remain sparse. In a recent update in his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman reports that sources suggest it might resemble two iPhone Airs combined together.
This implies that the device will be fairly slim, albeit possibly thicker than a Pixel 10 Pro Fold (10.8mm) or the Galaxy Z Fold7 (8.9mm), given that the iPhone Air measures 5.6mm thick. However, Ming-Chi Kuo’s contacts indicate it could be notably thinner when fully extended, possibly as slim as 4.5mm. Unfortunately, Gurman anticipates that the foldable iPhone will be priced higher than the Pixel Fold, likely starting at $2,000 or more.
The advantage of utilizing the iPhone Air design lies in its robustness. Despite advancements in foldable technology, questions remain about their durability under duress. Gurman notes that the foldable iPhone will utilize titanium, similar to the Air, a material that both JerryRigsEverything and iFixIt recognize for its resilience.
iFixIt awarded the iPhone Air a surprisingly positive repairability score of seven. Achieving a similar score with a foldable iPhone would be a notable achievement. In contrast, the Pixel Fold and Z Fold7 both scored a repairability rating of three, highlighting that these more delicate devices are significantly more challenging to fix than conventional glass smartphones.
