Apple’s first foldable iPhone will launch in September, competing against Huawei and Samsung, two of the biggest foldable smartphone-selling companies.
Digital FixedFocus said that if Apple’s foldable iPhone production goes smoothly and provides enough supply, its shipments could enter the top three foldable smartphone companies in the first quarter of 2027.
Counterpoint Research predicts that global smartphone shipments will increase by 21% year-on-year in 2026 due to the release of the foldable iPhone.
The researcher forecasts that Samsung will retain the top position with a 32% market share, but it will be a decline from 2025. Apple is likely to squeeze Samsung’s market share with its first-gen foldable. Starting next year, Apple will take the competition even further with Huawei, which is already leading the China market.
The foldable iPhone, expected to be released as iPhone Ultra, will bring a wide-fold form factor. The main foldable screen could measure around 7.6-7.8 inches, while there may be a 5.5-inch cover display to keep interactions available when the iPhone is closed.
It will feature a 2nm A20 Pro, coupled with 12GB of RAM. It will bring Apple’s C2 5G modem for improved connectivity. The rear side has a horizontal camera design, consisting of a dual 48MP rear camera system.
The iPhone Ultra may not feature Face ID. Instead, it could bring a fingerprint ID system on the side. Still, it has an opening on the cover display in the top right corner of the cover screen.
Furthermore, iOS 27 is optimized for iPhone Ultra and the user interface, with features such as split-screen and other key capabilities.