Technology information website The Information reported on Tuesday that Apple is likely to introduce a foldable iPhone as early as 2026, which could represent the biggest hardware design revamp for the company's most popular product.
The Cupertino, California-based company's plan to launch a foldable iPhone mimics a similar move from Samsung, which was a leader in the foldable device sector in 2019, in an attempt to attract new customers with a major update to the device design.
The website reported, citing two knowledgeable people, that the foldable iPhone had passed the study stage within Apple.
The website added that Apple has contacted suppliers in Asia to manufacture components for the device, noting that it has set an internal code name for the product (V.68).
It is expected that foldable smartphones, supported by artificial intelligence features, will stimulate demand for Apple products, which face intense competition from Honor and Huawei in China and Samsung globally.
The global foldable smartphone market grew 49 percent in the first quarter compared to the previous year, recording the highest rate of increase in a year and a half, according to a Counterpoint Research report issued in May, with Huawei occupying first place for the first time, beating Samsung.
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