The foldable iPhone has been discussed for several years, but until now we’ve only seen it in blurry renders and rough dummies. Now everything has changed. Well-known insider Sonny Dickson has published the most detailed mockups of the upcoming device — and from them you can understand almost everything. Screen sizes, camera placement, the unlocking method, and even the color. Spoiler: there will apparently be only one color.
The final design of iPhone Ultra is before you
What the First Foldable iPhone Will Look Like
Let’s clarify right away: these are mockups, not working devices. So-called dummy units are non-functional blanks that Apple and its contractors use to finalize the body shape. At the same time, case manufacturers use them to start making accessories before the announcement. That’s why Dickson’s new mockups can be trusted: he has repeatedly been right about the design of future gadgets. The main intrigue of foldable smartphones is the form factor. And here Apple is going its own way.
This is how the device will look from the outside
When unfolded, the iPhone Fold transforms into a tablet with a screen of about 7.8 inches. In terms of area, it’s almost like an iPad mini — just thinner. The front camera is hidden not in the center, as you’re used to, but in the upper left corner of the inner display. A debatable but logical decision: the camera interferes less with content this way.
The outer screen is approximately 5.5 inches. When the device is folded, it’s noticeably shorter and wider than a regular iPhone. The aspect ratio is closer to 4:3, and in hand, such a smartphone truly resembles a passport — short and wide.
And this is how it looks inside
The foldable iPhone will have four cameras. Two front cameras on each screen and two main cameras on the back. For the most expensive iPhone in the lineup, this sounds modest — Pro models have had three main modules since 2019. But remember the iPhone Air with its single camera. Compared to that, two cameras are already a step forward, not backward.
The fold deserves a separate mention. Apple’s main trump card in the industry is said to be the hinge quality. According to rumors, the crease on the screen will be almost invisible — something no competitor has achieved yet. Additionally, when unfolded, the device could turn out to be a record-breakingly thin: about 4.5 mm. For comparison, the current record holder — the 13-inch iPad Pro — is 5.1 mm thick.
Why iPhone Fold Will Get Touch ID Instead of Face ID
This decision will surprise many. The foldable iPhone will lose Face ID. Instead of the familiar face scanner, Apple will embed a fingerprint sensor in the side button. The same Touch ID you remember from the iPhone SE and basic iPads.
The front camera will turn into a classic dot
The reason is purely engineering. The TrueDepth system responsible for Face ID requires too much vertical space. In an ultra-thin foldable body, there’s simply nowhere to put it without compromising thickness. So Apple is choosing a compromise — and for the first time in a long while is releasing an iPhone without face recognition.
What Colors Will the Foldable iPhone Come In
The most unexpected conclusion from the new mockups concerns the color. Dickson believes that the iPhone Fold will come only in white. A black or other color option may not be available at launch. Previously, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg mentioned two options — black and white. But the new data suggests you won’t have a choice at all. And this is very much in Apple’s spirit.
There will apparently be only one color
The company regularly launches new products with a minimum of color options and then expands the palette later. The first iPhone and iPad had no color options at all — choices only appeared in the second generation, with the iPhone 3G and iPad 2. The updated iPhone X in 2017 came in just two colors: silver and space gray. And the new iPhone 17 Pro is offered in three variants instead of four like its predecessor.
So a single white color at launch is not a bug but a perfectly expected strategy. If you want black — you’ll have to wait for the second generation.
Foldable iPhone Release Date and Expected Price
Now for the main question — when and for how much. The foldable iPhone is expected in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Interestingly, the regular iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will this time be postponed until spring 2027. That means in the fall, Apple will show only three of its most expensive smartphones — and the foldable will be the star of the presentation.
The price situation is grim. Analysts agree on a starting price of $1,999 for the base version. Higher-capacity versions at 512 GB and 1 TB will be even more expensive. This is the most expensive iPhone in history.
There’s also a bright side. Apple will be able to rely on its massive library of iPad apps. The large inner screen of the foldable iPhone is perfectly suited for tablet versions of apps, so the device will be well-supplied with software from day one.
Let’s sum up. Before us is an almost finalized design: a passport-like form factor, an iPad mini-sized screen inside, Touch ID in the button, two cameras, and a single white color. There won’t be a revolution in specifications — but this is the first foldable iPhone, and that alone will be enough for people to line up for it.
