📱 Apple’s Foldable iPhone Launch Could Be Delayed to 2027

⏳ Launch Timeline

- Speculation is growing that Apple’s first foldable iPhone may not arrive until 2027.
- The delay is attributed to the time required to finalize hinge design and other key component specifications.

Mizuho Securities (Japan) reported on October 14:

“Because it will take time for Apple to finalize the hinge and other key specifications, it will be difficult for the company to begin mass production of a foldable iPhone in the third quarter of 2026 and launch it in September.”

This would have coincided with the iPhone 18 series launch in September 2026.

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📉 Production & Shipment Forecasts

- Apple’s projected panel production for foldables has been revised downward:
- 13 million → 11 million → 9 million units
- Even if Apple sticks to a 2026 launch, initial production may be limited to 5–7 million units, below panel output.
- Planned volume: 10–15 million units
- If priced above USD 2,000 (≈ KRW 2.8M), shipments of 5–7 million units are considered more realistic.

👉 All panels will be supplied by Samsung Display.
For comparison: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 (2025) starts at KRW 2.38M.

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📐 Expected Specifications

- Internal display: 7.58 inches
- External display: 5.38 inches
- Key technologies:
- CoE (Color filter on Encapsulation) – eliminates polarizer (used in Samsung Z Fold since 2021)
- Hole display – debuted with iPhone 15 (2023)
- LTPO TFT – to be adopted across all iPhone 17 models

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💻 Foldable MacBook Outlook

- Apple’s first foldable MacBook (18.9-inch) is projected for 2028–2029.
- Development activity has resumed, but Apple will likely wait for consumer response to the foldable iPhone first.

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📅 iPhone Launch Strategy

- Starting next year, Apple may split iPhone launches into fall and spring seasons.
- iPhone 18 lineup (Sept 2026): Pro, Pro Max, Air, Foldable
- Spring 2027: Base iPhone 18 + budget-friendly iPhone 18e

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📊 Shipment Projections

- 2026 shipments: 229M units (↓7% from 246M in 2025)
- Foldable iPhone (first year): 5–7M units vs. ~20M for a standard iPhone debut
- 2027 rebound: 252M units (record high, surpassing 2015 peak)

👉 Apple is developing new technologies for the iPhone 19 series, which will mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone in 2027. Foldable iPhone prices are expected to decrease by then.

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📈 Current iPhone 17 Series Sales

- Sales remain solid across all models except the Air.
- Pro & Pro Max: Slight YoY increase
- Base model: Sharp growth → supply chain considering ramp-up

Revised production forecasts (by year-end):
| Model | Change in Units |
|-------------|-----------------|
| Air | -1M |
| Base | +2M |
| Pro | +1M |
| Pro Max | +4M |