Apple is bending over backwards to stay in the race.

Long a disruptive force in the technology sector, Apple is experiencing a period of turbulence following a failed shift into artificial intelligence and an increasingly marked lack of innovation. However, the group could well offer a brand new product by 2027: its first foldable smartphone.

For several months now, MarketScreener has been highlighting an apparent weakness at Apple. In addition to having to deal with several complications, the company is no longer able to surprise its customers. This weariness is reflected in its share price, which has fallen by 21.50% since the beginning of the year. The manufacturer's latest keynote presentation did little to reassure investors, as no major new developments in AI were announced. However, rumors are intensifying about a brand new device: the first ever foldable iPhone could be launched in 2027.

Is this project finally taking shape?

Unveiled in 2019 by Samsung, the foldable smartphone is considered the latest major innovation in the mobile industry. Now adopted by a number of manufacturers, the idea of a foldable Apple device keeps coming up without ever materializing. But when it is mentioned by Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, the subject takes a whole new turn.

In a note, the analyst reveals that the project is expected to officially begin in Q3 2025, with mass production scheduled for Q4 2026. The first shipments are expected to total between 3 and 5 million units over the year. He even mentions a second generation of the device, with production set to start in H2 2027. "With the second-generation model included, total shipments of foldable iPhones could reach 20 million units in 2027," he says.

A high-end positioning

In a recent update, Ming-Chi Kuo said that Foxconn is expected to start the project between Q3 and Q4 2025. This slight delay is said to be due to the particular attention being paid to the design of the hinge. The screen, on the other hand, is one of the few components that has already been finalized: "Samsung Display (SDC) plans to develop an annual production capacity of 7 to 8 million foldable panels to supply the foldable iPhone in 2026," the analyst says.

This would obviously be a very upmarket smartphone, priced between $2,000 and $2,500, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold. "With its status as a must-have device and the loyalty of Apple fans, it should generate strong replacement demand, despite its high price, provided that the quality lives up to expectations," he adds.

One last point remains uncertain, however. The analyst refers to "a true AI-powered phone," suggesting concrete uses made possible by the screen size. For example, he details an interface capable of chatting with a chatbot while simultaneously displaying a map to plan a trip. The idea of AI interconnected between applications is appealing, but still seems premature, given that the Cupertino-based company must first deliver on its promises regarding its Apple Intelligence program.