Apple Still Targets September for First Foldable Phone Release

Apple’s first foldable phone is on track to arrive in September, as planned, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (April 7), citing unnamed sources.

The news contradicted a report published earlier Tuesday by Nikkei Asia, which said Apple had run into engineering problems that could delay shipment of the foldable phone.

Apple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS’ request for comment.

According to the Bloomberg report, the company is preparing to introduce the foldable phone in September along with or soon after the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It will price the foldable phone above $2,000.

The initial supply of the foldable phone may be limited for several weeks, but it is set to arrive around the same time as the non-foldable models, the report said.

However, production has not started, so the timing could change, per the report.

It was reported in December 2024 that Apple was prepping a foldable phone for release in 2026 after experimenting with designs for years. The company was slower than others to enter the foldable phone market because the current models were not thin, light or energy efficient enough to meet its standards, the report said.

In November 2025, it was reported that Apple planned to overhaul both the iPhone products themselves and the smartphones’ traditional release schedule. According to the report, the company plans to introduce three high-end models — the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and new foldable — in the fall. Six months or so later, it will launch the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and potentially an updated iPhone Air.

This will mark a change to the release schedule Apple has followed in recent years, in which it launched four main iPhone in the fall, with a lower cost SE or “e” model being introduced in the earlier part of the year. Starting this year, the company will stop compressing so many releases into the fall, allowing it to enjoy steadier revenue throughout the year and place less pressure on workers and manufacturers.

The Tuesday report from Bloomberg reiterated that report, saying Apple’s next entry level model, as well as a new iPhone Air and iPhone 18e, are set to be launched in spring 2027.