iPhone Fold Predicted to Release September, Along with iPhone 18 Pro

JAKARTA - Speculation about the folding screen iPhone is getting hotter. The latest leak says Apple is still on track to release its first foldable device, the "iPhone Fold", in September 2026 - in conjunction with its next flagship line.

This information comes from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, who said the device would be introduced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at Apple's annual event. If this schedule holds, the release to the market is expected to occur about a week after the official launch.

"The iPhone Fold will be presented with the iPhone lineup as usual in September," Gurman wrote, citing a source who knows Apple's internal plans.

However, behind this optimism, there are warning signs from the supply chain. Until now, mass production of the iPhone Fold is said to have not been fully boosted, even though the launch window is only about six months away. This means that although the September target is still "on track", the risk of falling back still exists - a little drama typical of Apple ahead of the launch.

Previously, a number of analysts had thrown different timelines. A report from Barclays mentioned the possibility of a release as early as December, while Bank of America estimated that the new launch would actually take place in 2026 without certainty of the month. Even Gurman himself in a previous report had opened the possibility of a "launch first, send later" scenario.

On the technical side, the biggest challenge is the folding screen - the make-or-break component of this device. Apple is rumored to have made material changes in the final stages, replacing the PET layer with a transparent polyimide (PI) to reduce scratches and increase durability.

The development of this screen is also rumored to be related to technology from Samsung Display, which had previously exhibited a foldable panel without a conspicuous fold at the CES, before it was finally pulled from the booth - a classic teaser move.

Despite the complex, production signals are starting to be seen. Previous reports said that screen production would begin in summer 2026, following Apple's schedule for the iPhone launch in September. Even since the end of 2025, Apple is rumored to have stockpiled components as part of a strategy to prepare for mass production.

Industrially, the presence of the iPhone Fold will be an important moment. So far Apple tends to be "late but polished" in the adoption of new technology - and if successful, they can immediately change the foldable market standard which is currently dominated by Android players.

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