Apple’s first foldable smartphones could launch in 2026

Apple is toying with the idea of dropping a foldable gadget, and they’re eyeing a size range from late 7 inches to early 8 inches. Rumor has it that we might see this new kid on the block as soon as 2026-2027. Some whispers suggest it could even step in for the 8.3-inch iPad mini, which is currently a tablet. However, since Apple is also cooking up OLED for the iPad mini, it seems like the specifics of the late 7-inch to early 8-inch foldable product are still up in the air.

Industry insiders spilled the beans on the 2nd, revealing that Apple is mulling over the idea of rolling out a foldable gadget falling somewhere between late 7 inches and early 8 inches. If they do go ahead with this, it would mark Apple’s maiden voyage into the world of foldable devices. The earliest we might witness this tech spectacle is around 2026-2027.

Word on the street is that Samsung Display and LG Display jumped the gun and shipped Apple some sneak peeks of foldable panels last year. Now, when it comes to Apple’s contemplation of a late 7-inch to early 8-inch foldable gadget, insiders are buzzing that it might be the birth of a foldable iPhone or a snazzy foldable iPad. However, the exact details and specs are still up in the air.

Some folks are reading between the lines and thinking that Apple’s late 7-inch to early 8-inch foldable concept could be the successor to the 8.3-inch iPad mini, which is a tablet. In the iPad family, the mini is the littlest one, with the others boasting sizes like 10.2 inches (9th generation), 10.8 inches (Air), 11.0 inches (Pro), and 12.9 inches (Pro). Excitingly, the 11.0-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro are set to debut with organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) for the first time this year.

On the flip side, some argue that Apple’s late 7-inch to early 8-inch foldable gizmo won’t step in for the iPad mini. Their reasoning? Well, Apple’s also deep into an OLED project for the iPad mini model, so it seems like they’ve got different plans in the works.

Apple is keeping mum on the nitty-gritty details of its late 7-inch to early 8-inch foldable gadget, but behind the scenes, Apple, Samsung Display, LG Display, and the gang are deep in discussions about the Ultrathin Glass (UTG), the cover window for the foldable panel, and the hinge concept – basically, the guts of the whole thing. Word on the street is that there’s a diversity of opinions, likely stemming from varying stances on how durable and reliable the end product should be.