Apple advances on the folding iPhone

If you keep saying it, maybe it will end up happening. Apple would indeed have a folding iPhone in its pipeline, and the device would be in the “planning” phase. It could share one of the features of the iPhone 7 Air, which could pose a problem in the Chinese market.

2024, 2025, 2026… Rumors and analysts are lost in conjectures when it comes to determining with relative precision the year of launch of theiPhone folding. 2024 is definitely a failure now, and 2025 seems frankly optimistic whereasApple already has a lot to do with a brand new very fine model, theiPhone 17 Air.

The SIM card of discord

For Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst well informed on what is happening behind the scenes of Apple’s Asian production line, the folding iPhone is still in its planning phase. Once it has passed this stage, the manufacturer will be able to consider production – and given the expected anemia of iPhone sales in 2025, the Apple firm may want to accelerate this project.

But even with a worthy competitor to the Galaxy Z Flip, as appears to be looming, Apple could have difficulty turning this iPhone into a huge commercial success, Kuo believes. According to him, Apple would choose to do without SIM card support for reasons of finesse; as for the iPhone 17 Air, the folding would make do with an eSIM chip (as is also the case with iPhones sold in the United States for several generations).

But now, it could be a problem in China, which has put in place strict measures to favor smartphones equipped with SIM cards. These in fact facilitate the control and surveillance of populations (obligation to register with an operator who collects personal information), while eSIMs are programmable remotely.

Therefore, Apple may have difficulty marketing not only the iPhone 17 Air but also the folding iPhone in China. Which is bad, because it is one of the largest markets for the iPhone and for smartphones in general.

The launch of this folding could take place during 2026, mentioned the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago. The device is said to have a larger screen than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.9 inches). One of the technical problems facing Apple is the hinge of the smartphone: it involves making the fold as imperceptible as possible. Will the manufacturer find the solution quickly?