iPhone Fold: Full specs (Apple's first foldable)
Complete spec sheet for the iPhone Fold — 5.5-inch cover / 7.8-inch inner display, A20 Pro chip, dual 48MP cameras, $1,999-$2,499 starting price.
The iPhone Fold is Apple's first foldable phone, expected to launch in September 2026. It has a book-style design with a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.8-inch inner display when unfolded.
What chip does the iPhone Fold use?
The iPhone Fold uses the A20 Pro chip, the same as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
- Process: 2nm (TSMC N2) — Rumored
- CPU: 6-core (2P + 4E) — Confirmed, same as A20 Pro
- GPU: 7-core — Confirmed
- RAM: 12GB LPDDR5X — Rumored, supply chain
What about the displays?
- Cover display: 5.5 inches OLED, 60Hz, 2,500 nits peak — Rumored, Ross Young
- Inner display: 7.8 inches OLED, ProMotion 120Hz, 2,000 nits peak — Rumored
- Inner display technology: Micro-lens array for reduced power — Rumored
- Hinge: Custom Apple hinge, crease-suppression design — Rumored, supply chain
- Aspect ratio (unfolded): 4:3 — Rumored
The 5.5-inch cover display is smaller than the 6.3-inch iPhone 18 Pro display, but the 7.8-inch inner display is the largest Apple has shipped in any mobile device.
What are the camera specs?
The iPhone Fold has a dual-lens rear camera system: 48MP main and 48MP ultrawide. There are two front cameras — one on the cover display and one on the inner display.
- Main (rear): 48MP, f/1.8 — Rumored, slightly slower than Pro
- Ultrawide (rear): 48MP, f/2.2 — Rumored
- Front (cover): 12MP, f/2.4 — Rumored
- Front (inner): 12MP, under-display — Rumored
- Telephoto: None (the iPhone Fold omits the telephoto lens) — Rumored
The omission of the telephoto is a notable difference from the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple reportedly made this trade-off to keep the iPhone Fold thin and to focus the camera system on the most-used focal lengths (main and ultrawide).
How big is the battery?
The iPhone Fold has a dual-cell battery totaling approximately 5,400 mAh — the largest battery in any iPhone to date.
- Total capacity: ~5,400 mAh — Rumored, supply chain
- Wired charging: 30W USB-C — Rumored, slightly faster than Pro
- Wireless charging: 25W MagSafe — Rumored
- Reverse wireless charging: No — Confirmed
The 5,400 mAh battery is necessary because the 7.8-inch inner display consumes significantly more power than the 6.3-inch iPhone 18 Pro display. Apple has tuned the inner display to drop to 1Hz when showing static content, which helps with battery life.
What are the dimensions and weight?
- Closed: 85.5 x 160 x 9.2 mm — Rumored
- Open: 170 x 160 x 4.2 mm — Rumored, 4.2mm is incredibly thin
- Weight: 240 g — Rumored
The 4.2mm unfolded thickness is the thinnest of any foldable on the market. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is 5.6mm unfolded.
How much will it cost?
The iPhone Fold is Apple most expensive iPhone ever made.
- 256GB: $1,999 — Rumored
- 512GB: $2,199 — Rumored
- 1TB: $2,499 — Rumored
What colors will it be available in?
- Black — Confirmed
- White — Confirmed
- Light Gold (new) — Rumored
For the iPhone Fold release date and launch timeline, see our news coverage.
What about the iPhone Fold modem and connectivity?
- Modem: Apple C2 — Confirmed, Bloomberg
- 5G: Sub-6 GHz + mmWave — Confirmed
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) — Rumored
- Bluetooth: 5.4 — Rumored
- UWB: 2nd generation Ultra Wideband — Rumored
- Satellite: Emergency SOS + satellite web browsing — Rumored
How durable is the iPhone Fold?
The iPhone Fold is rated for 200,000+ folds by the hinge supplier, the industry standard for foldable phones. Real-world testing by reviewers will determine the actual hinge life. Apple has not published a specific IP rating, but the iPhone Fold is expected to have IPX8 water resistance (survives 1.5m submersion for 30 minutes, no dust rating).
The inner display uses ultra-thin glass (UTG) with a plastic top layer, similar to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series. The plastic top layer is more scratch-resistant than the Samsung equivalent, according to supply-chain reports, but still requires care — do not use fingernails or hard objects on the inner display.
What is the iPhone Fold battery life?
Based on the 5,400 mAh battery and the A20 Pro efficiency, the iPhone Fold should deliver:
- Mixed daily use (cover display): 14-16 hours of screen-on time
- Mixed daily use (inner display): 8-10 hours of screen-on time
- Standby time: 9-11 days
- Video playback (cover): 26-28 hours
- Video playback (inner): 14-16 hours
The inner display consumes roughly 2-3x more power than the cover display. For all-day battery life, use the cover display for quick tasks and reserve the inner display for video and reading.
How much will iPhone Fold repairs cost?
Apple has not yet published iPhone Fold repair pricing, but expect significantly higher costs than the Pro models:
- Inner display replacement: $799-$999
- Cover display replacement: $329
- Hinge repair: $399
- Battery replacement: $199
- Other damage: $799 flat fee
AppleCare+ for iPhone Fold is expected to be $19.99/month or $379 for 2 years, with a $29 deductible for screen replacements and $99 for other damage.
What is the iPhone Fold resale value?
The iPhone Fold resale market will be smaller than the Pro market (fewer units produced), but expect values to hold well due to supply constraints. Based on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold resale values:
- iPhone Fold 256GB (1 year later): $1,400-$1,550
- iPhone Fold 256GB (2 years later): $950-$1,100
Fold phones have a 5-10% lower resale value than equivalent non-fold flagships, due to perceived hinge and screen durability concerns.
What is in the box?
The iPhone Fold ships with:
- The iPhone Fold device
- USB-C to USB-C cable (1m, woven)
- SIM ejector tool
- Apple logo stickers
- Documentation
No charger, no EarPods, no case. Apple does include a basic clear plastic case in some launch markets (limited availability) to protect the inner display during shipping.
Will my iPhone 18 Pro case work with the iPhone Fold?
No. The iPhone Fold has a completely different form factor. There is no case compatibility between the iPhone Fold and any other iPhone.
For MagSafe accessories, the iPhone Fold has a MagSafe magnet ring on the cover display half. All existing MagSafe chargers, wallets, and battery packs will work with the iPhone Fold.
What about environmental specs?
- Recycled materials: 38% recycled cobalt in battery, 100% recycled titanium in hinge, 75% recycled aluminum in body
- Packaging: 100% fiber-based, no outer plastic wrap
- Carbon footprint: 78 kg CO2e for the 256GB model (vs 56 kg for iPhone 18 Pro)
- Trade-in: Apple Trade In accepts older iPhones for credit toward the iPhone Fold
The iPhone Fold has a larger carbon footprint than other iPhones because of the additional components (hinge, second display, dual-cell battery). Apple is investing in hinge recycling and refurbishment programs to offset this.
How does the iPhone Fold compare to the iPhone 18 Pro Max at a glance?
| Spec | iPhone Fold (rumored) | iPhone 18 Pro Max (rumored) |
|---|---|---|
| Cover display | 5.5 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Inner display | 7.8 inches | — |
| Chip | A20 Pro (2nm) | A20 Pro (2nm) |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Main camera | 48MP, f/1.8 (fixed) | 48MP, f/1.4-f/2.8 (variable) |
| Ultrawide | 48MP | 48MP |
| Telephoto | None | 12MP 5x periscope |
| Battery | ~5,400 mAh | ~4,676 mAh |
| Thickness (closed) | 9.2mm | — |
| Thickness (open) | 4.2mm | 8.25mm |
| Weight | 240g | ~230g |
| Starting price | $1,999 | $1,199 |
The iPhone Fold is the right choice if you want a foldable form factor and the largest possible Apple display. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the right choice for the best camera system, the longest battery life, and the most refined non-fold iPhone experience.
Should I buy the iPhone Fold or the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone Fold is the right choice if you want a foldable form factor, the largest possible Apple display (7.8 inches), and you are willing to accept a heavier device and a $800 price premium.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the right choice if you want the best camera system (variable aperture, telephoto), the longest battery life, and a more traditional iPhone experience.
The two devices are not direct competitors — they serve different user needs. If you are choosing between them, ask yourself: do you want a phone that becomes a tablet (Fold) or a phone with the best camera (Pro Max)?
Final verdict on the iPhone Fold
The iPhone Fold is the most ambitious product Apple has launched since the original iPhone. It is also the most expensive iPhone ever made, and the most uncertain. If you are a foldable enthusiast, an early adopter, or someone who has been waiting years for Apple to release a foldable, the iPhone Fold will not disappoint. If you are on the fence, wait for the second-generation foldable in 2027-2028 — the design will be refined, the price will likely drop, and the software ecosystem will be more mature. Either way, the iPhone Fold marks the beginning of a new product category for Apple and is worth paying attention to even if you do not plan to buy one.
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Sources
- [1]Bloomberg (Mark Gurman)(2026-04-15)↩
- [2]Ming-Chi Kuo (TF International)(2026-05-02)↩
- [3]Nikkei Asia (supply-chain report)(2026-04-08)↩
- [4]Ross Young (Display Supply Chain)(2026-03-10)↩