The iPhone Air, Apple’s slimmest ever smartphone, created loads of headlines when it launched final month. However most pundits agree that the gadget is a precursor for one thing much more radical subsequent 12 months. And we simply obtained a giant clue about what that one thing will seem like.
Apple is predicted to observe up the Air with its first-ever foldable smartphone in late 2026. In that context, the design breakthroughs (and digicam and battery compromises) which the corporate made for the Air make much more sense: a standard smartphone doesn’t must be as skinny as 5.6mm, however the two halves of a foldable every must be in that ballpark so the gadget isn’t too cumbersome when closed up.
This removed from launch, particulars of the iPhone Fold (or iPhone 18 Fold, if Apple needs to hyperlink the gadget into its long-term numbering system) are scarce, however the assumption so far has been that it’s going to share quite a few design components with the iPhone Air: a number of analysts have gone on file to say that will probably be primarily two Airs joined collectively. However in keeping with a brand new investor notice from Jeff Pu (through 9to5Mac), there might be at the least one main distinction: the body might be manufactured from a special materials… or mixture of supplies.
The iPhone Air has a titanium body, which is a key a part of the gross sales pitch: with potential clients seemingly fearing a repeat of 2014’s Bendgate scandal, Apple needed to display that the Air is manufactured from stronger stuff than the iPhone 6 Plus, and titanium is the hardest body materials round. The remainder of the late-2025 iPhones have aluminum frames, and a few older Professional fashions had a stainless-steel body. These are the one choices we’ve seen thus far.
The Fold might be totally different, Pu reckons. It’ll have a hybrid body, manufactured from a mix of aluminum and titanium. The analyst doesn’t go into depth explaining why Apple would try this, however we’ve an thought of what the corporate likes about every of these two metals: titanium is powerful, whereas aluminum is sweet for thermal efficiency. A cleverly designed hybrid may mix the advantages of every, at the price of a extra advanced manufacturing course of. And primarily based on the costs Apple is predicted to cost for the iPhone Fold ($1,999 is a conservative estimate), that is likely to be an appropriate draw back.
For all the most recent information and rumors about this much-anticipated product, test our recurrently up to date folding iPhone superguide.
