Apple is preparing to enter the foldable market with not one but two devices slated for release in 2026, according to a new investor report from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu. The report, focused on supplier Hon Hai Technology (commonly known as Foxconn), claims that Apple has awarded the company the contract to produce two foldable devices, with mass production targeted for the second half of 2026. This aligns with growing speculation about Apple's foldable ambitions, offering a potential timeline for customers eagerly awaiting its entry into a new category.
We expect the business to recover in 2026, regardless of LLM Siri's launch or not, driven by the recent award of NPI for Apple's two foldable devices, targeting to enter MP in 2H26.
The first device, a foldable iPhone, is expected to address a long-standing issue in foldable tech: the display crease. Recent reports from South Korea's ETNews indicate Apple has developed new materials to eliminate the visible wrinkle, aiming to set its offering apart from competitors like Samsung. Pu's report suggests this foldable iPhone will hit mass production in late 2026, with Hon Hai entering the "P1" development stage this April. Sources peg the design with a 5.49-inch external screen and a 7.74-inch internal display, folding inward like a book. Apple's supply chain is already mobilizing, with Samsung Display tapped for OLED panels and Corning likely providing the cover glass.
The second device may be a larger foldable, potentially an iPad Pro or MacBook, with an 18.8-inch display. This matches leaks from Digital Chat Station, which noted an engineering prototype featuring under-display Face ID using a metal metamaterial lens for seamless 3D facial recognition. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman have also pointed to an 18.8-inch foldable in Apple's pipeline, though some reports suggest a 2027 or 2028 debut. Pu's report, however, ties Hon Hai's production schedule to 2026, hinting that this giant foldable could arrive sooner.
Details remain scarce on final specs, but Apple's focus on crease-free displays and cutting-edge components suggests a premium approach. With suppliers like Hon Hai, Samsung Display, and Amphenol ramping up for production, the foldable iPhone and iPad Pro are shaping up to be major releases. Pu forecasts a strong 2026 for Hon Hai's consumer business, driven by these foldable projects, despite a lukewarm 2025 outlook tied to delays in advanced Siri features. He also notes that Apple's foldable push could lift Hon Hai's revenue by 12.2% year-over-year in 2026, reaching NT$10.1 trillion.
For more updates on Apple's foldable devices, please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.
We expect the business to recover in 2026, regardless of LLM Siri's launch or not, driven by the recent award of NPI for Apple's two foldable devices, targeting to enter MP in 2H26.
The first device, a foldable iPhone, is expected to address a long-standing issue in foldable tech: the display crease. Recent reports from South Korea's ETNews indicate Apple has developed new materials to eliminate the visible wrinkle, aiming to set its offering apart from competitors like Samsung. Pu's report suggests this foldable iPhone will hit mass production in late 2026, with Hon Hai entering the "P1" development stage this April. Sources peg the design with a 5.49-inch external screen and a 7.74-inch internal display, folding inward like a book. Apple's supply chain is already mobilizing, with Samsung Display tapped for OLED panels and Corning likely providing the cover glass.
The second device may be a larger foldable, potentially an iPad Pro or MacBook, with an 18.8-inch display. This matches leaks from Digital Chat Station, which noted an engineering prototype featuring under-display Face ID using a metal metamaterial lens for seamless 3D facial recognition. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman have also pointed to an 18.8-inch foldable in Apple's pipeline, though some reports suggest a 2027 or 2028 debut. Pu's report, however, ties Hon Hai's production schedule to 2026, hinting that this giant foldable could arrive sooner.
Details remain scarce on final specs, but Apple's focus on crease-free displays and cutting-edge components suggests a premium approach. With suppliers like Hon Hai, Samsung Display, and Amphenol ramping up for production, the foldable iPhone and iPad Pro are shaping up to be major releases. Pu forecasts a strong 2026 for Hon Hai's consumer business, driven by these foldable projects, despite a lukewarm 2025 outlook tied to delays in advanced Siri features. He also notes that Apple's foldable push could lift Hon Hai's revenue by 12.2% year-over-year in 2026, reaching NT$10.1 trillion.
For more updates on Apple's foldable devices, please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.