Apple is still planning to release its first foldable smartphone later this year. Despite recent rumors claiming the company pushed the release date back, new reports confirm the highly anticipated iPhone Fold remains on schedule. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman confirmed the news, putting to rest any fears of a delayed release.
Fans can expect to see the new device hit store shelves this September, right alongside the standard iPhone lineup during the usual fall hardware event. The tech giant wants to maintain its grip on the premium phone market by meeting its original launch goals.
Pushing past production problems to meet the fall deadline
Earlier this month, supply chain sources suggested the device might miss its target completely. Initial reports indicated that the Apple foldable iPhone hit engineering snags and potential delays regarding the overall screen durability and hinge mechanism. The engineering team reportedly struggled to eliminate the visible crease that appears in the middle of the display after repeated folding.
Because it refuses to launch a product that feels fragile or unfinished, many assumed a delay was inevitable. However, Gurman noted that the manufacturing partners successfully resolved the worst of those display issues.
The company finalized the internal hardware design and is moving into the next phase of mass production, allowing the supply chain to build enough units to meet the heavy consumer demand.
Choosing a final name and figuring out the retail price
While the physical hardware seems ready for the September reveal, the marketing details are still a bit of a mystery. Some industry insiders suggest that Apple’s foldable iPhone may launch as the iPhone Ultra instead of the Fold to help it stand out from rivals like Samsung and Google. It wants to position the device as a premium luxury item rather than just another smartphone option on the market. This premium branding also means a much higher price tag.
Analysts expect the new foldable to cost significantly more than the top models currently available in the Apple store. As September approaches, we will likely see more leaked photos surface online.
