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In the latest chapter of the ongoing saga, the iPhone Fold is now rumored to be entering mass production in 2026, with pre-production steps starting in late 2025.

The process to design and manufacture an iPhone is phenomenally long, and it appears to be the same for the iPhone Fold. According to one analyst, it could take close to a year for the manufacturing process to be finalized.

In a Wednesday X by Ming-Chi Kuo of TF Securities, Foxconn will be kicking off a project to produce Apple's first foldable smartphone in late Q3 or early Q4 of 2025. This puts the start of the project at around the time the iPhone 17 will hit store shelves.

However, the actual design of the iPhone Fold that will be produced is still uncertain. Kuo says that many specifications of components, including the all-important hinge mechanism, have "yet to be finalized."

The folding display has been finalized, though, with Kuo saying Samsung Display is preparing to manufacture between 7 and 8 million foldable panels for the iPhone Fold.

Still on the way

While Kuo has in the past been known for the accuracy of his claims, the iPhone Fold has been an elusive item that he has repeatedly been declared to be in development and heading to manufacturing. Many reports over the years have declared a folding iPhone and other similar hardware were in development, and that a release was just a few short years away.

Back in May 2021, Kuo told investors that he expected manufacturing to start by 2023. Months later in September of the same year, it was revised to 2024.

Modern-day rumors and leaks now have the general opinion that an actual release of the iPhone Fold could happen in 2027. Though there's no guarantee that the schedule won't slip yet again.

The current expectations for the iPhone Fold include a pair of displays, with the internal 7.8-inch folding screen accompanied by a 5.5-inch external screen. An under-display camera system and hole-punch cameras have been speculated, along with the return of Touch ID instead of Face ID.

The price for the iPhone Fold could end up at around $2,300 when it eventually ships.