Apple is preparing to put one of its most consequential hardware shifts in front of the world this afternoon: a folding iPhone. The company is expected to unveil the device at its “Surprise and Shine” event, marking the first major product announcement under new chief executive John Ternus. If reports are accurate, the phone will fold from a compact 5.5-inch form into a 7.8-inch display, while carrying a price above $2,000. It is not simply a new gadget; it is a test of Apple’s ability to reinvent its flagship product and of Ternus’s first weeks at the helm.
A new chapter for Apple
The event is scheduled to begin at 10am Pacific Standard Time at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California, south of San Francisco. It will be Ternus’s first appearance as chief executive, following his assumption of the role on 1 September after outgoing CEO Tim Cook stepped down.
The timing could hardly be more revealing. Instead of arriving after a long transition period, Ternus will take the stage as Apple prepares what could be its biggest iPhone redesign since the original smartphone debuted in 2007.
In a note to employees on his first day, Ternus signalled the scale of the moment. He said he was excited by “the incredible products already in the works and the ones we haven’t even imagined”.
He also acknowledged the importance of the upcoming launch. “I’m honored to be stepping into this role at what is truly the greatest company in the world, and I am so excited about everything we have in store,” Ternus wrote. “We have a huge launch next week that’s going to be phenomenal. Thanks for everything you’ve all done to make it possible.”
This is also a leadership test. The folding iPhone will be the first substantial indication of how the new chief intends to guide Apple’s most important product line.
The hardware Apple wants to bet on
The anticipated folding iPhone would represent Apple’s long-awaited entry into a category that rival manufacturers have pursued for years. Google, Samsung and other Android makers have released foldable phones since the late 2010s, but Apple has traditionally preferred to wait until a format feels refined enough for its customers.
According to reports, the proposed model would measure about 5.5 inches when closed and expand to 7.8 inches when opened. That would give users a substantially larger display without requiring them to carry a separate tablet.
The price is expected to exceed $2,000, placing it above several competing foldables. The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, for example, retails for $1,899. Apple has built a reputation for commanding premium prices, although the folding iPhone will need to persuade customers that its design and software justify the extra cost.
The product’s official name remains uncertain. Rumours point to either “iPhone Fold” or “iPhone Ultra”, though Apple has not confirmed which label it will use.
Thin design brings difficult trade-offs
One of the most intriguing details concerns the phone’s security system. Apple is not expected to include Face ID on the folding model, reportedly because the device is too thin to accommodate the camera hardware required for facial recognition.
Instead, the phone is expected to rely on Touch ID. That would mark a notable departure from the biometric approach used across Apple’s current iPhone range and could influence how the company designs its next generation of devices.
Apple is said to have begun testing prototypes of a folding iPhone display in early 2021, although there were no launch plans at the time, according to a Bloomberg report. The forthcoming model would therefore represent the culmination of several years of experimentation rather than a sudden decision to enter the category.
The company’s cautious approach has helped it avoid some of the early problems that affected rival foldables, including durability concerns and uneven software experiences. Whether Apple can deliver a polished product at this price point will be central to the device’s success.
A wider product slate
The folding iPhone is expected to dominate the event, but Apple is also preparing a broader set of announcements. Alongside the new foldable, the company is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models.
There are also reports of updates to the Apple Watch and AirPods lines, as well as Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook. If those products appear as expected, the event could feel less like a single-product launch and more like the opening of a new hardware cycle.
Foldable phones still account for only a small portion of global smartphone sales, and conventional iPhones continue to attract strong demand. Apple’s most recent earnings reflected that resilience, with customers showing continued interest in the company’s standard models.
That makes the folding iPhone both an opportunity and a risk. It could open a major new market for Apple, but it could also distract from the products that already generate the company’s greatest revenue.
Why it Matters
A folding iPhone would be more than an ambitious new gadget; it would signal Apple’s willingness to reshape the smartphone after nearly two decades of incremental change. For John Ternus, the launch will be the first real test of his ability to preserve Apple’s design culture while pushing the company into unfamiliar territory. The device’s name, price, durability and biometric system could all influence how quickly customers embrace foldables and how seriously Apple is taken in a market already crowded with alternatives. The outcome will tell us whether this is a carefully planned evolution for the iPhone or the beginning of a much bigger transformation.