Apple is scheduled to unveil the most significant design overhaul to the iPhone since its 2007 debut during its annual autumn product launch event this afternoon.
Unlike previous generations, the upcoming iPhone is expected to feature a foldable display that opens and closes like a passport, effectively doubling its screen area.
The “Surprise and Shine” unveiling will take place at 10 a.m. PST at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, south of San Francisco.
While competitors have marketed foldable smartphones since the late 2010s, this release marks the company’s first entry into the segment and serves as a major test for newly appointed Chief Executive Officer John Ternus.
The phone is expected to cost more than $2,000, making it more expensive than some rival foldable smartphones. For example, Google sells the Pixel 11 Pro Fold for $1,899. Apple has yet to reveal the handset’s name, although rumours suggest it could be called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra.
According to Bloomberg, Apple began testing prototypes of a foldable iPhone display in early 2021, although the company had no plans to launch the device at the time. The model reportedly set for release will measure about 5.5 inches when closed and expand to 7.8 inches when opened.
The foldable iphone and other Product offering
Additionally, the foldable iphone may not support Face ID because its slim design leaves insufficient space for the facial-recognition hardware. Reports suggest Apple will instead equip it with Touch ID.
Apple is also expected to make several other standard announcements, including the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models.
According to Bloomberg, the company also plans to unveil updated versions of other products during the event and in the coming months. These could include upgrades to the Apple Watch and AirPods lines, as well as Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook.
Ternus will also take the stage for the first time as Apple CEO, succeeding Tim Cook.
Backstory…
Cook stepped down as chief executive on September 1, 2026, after 15 years in the role, and handed the position to John Ternus, Apple’s former senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. Cook remains with the company as executive chairman.
Meanwhile, Apple is actually arriving late to the foldable-phone market. Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Fold in 2019, while companies including Huawei, Motorola and Google have since developed their own foldable devices. Foldables, however, remain a relatively small part of the overall smartphone market.
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