Two iPhone Airs, One Hinge Could be Apple’s First Foldable Phone

Now that the iPhone Air is out, rumors suggest Apple’s foldable phone, which has been in the works for years, will be very similar to its smaller sibling. Two of those Airs are said to be hinged together to form a book-style folder that unfolds into a device more like a tablet than a phone.

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg and others, the iPhone Air’s body is made of titanium, the same metal that’s popular because of its strength without weight. Along with flat corners that resemble Apple’s most current lineup, that decision is carried over here. The hinge is stainless steel and titanium, and is reinforced with liquid metal poured through a die-casting process to withstand the constant bend without breaking. Foldables have struggled with durability, but Apple seems to be addressing that from the get-go. The titanium used in the iPhone Air’s early tests was bend and scratch resistant; if that’s transferred to a foldable frame it should reduce worries about wear and tear.

When folded, the device is 9-9.5mm, small enough to fit in pockets with regular phones. When you unfold it, the profile shrinks to 4.5-4.8mm, smaller than most competitors like Google’s Pixel Fold at 10.8mm or Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 at 8.9mm. Analysts who keep an eye on Apple’s prototypes like Ming-Chi Kuo provide such dimensions. The result? A folder that feels like an extension of the tiny designs people already carry rather than a compromise.


The experience is defined by two screens: a 7.8-inch main panel that spreads wide for reading or splitting work, and a 5.5-inch outer panel that when closed allows for quick glances like a regular iPhone screen. The outer screen is 2,088 x 1,422, while the larger screen is 2,713 x 1,920 in a 4:3 ratio, almost square for better app layouts. Those specs are from Weibo insiders like Instant Digital and show Apple’s effort to eliminate the fold line that other devices have.


Opening and closing it thousands of times won’t break the inner display because a metal plate in the hinge absorbs the bending force. No more creases visible when scrolling or watching videos. For selfies in compact mode, the outer screen has a punch-hole camera, and the inner screen has the lens hidden beneath the pixels so it’s less noticeable than notches or holes. By removing the usual distractions, those settings give you a clear view and turn the unfolded state into a pocket iPad.


Four lenses sit at the back: two 48MP for images and videos that can be used flat or folded. To keep that seamless look, the inner display gets its own under-screen camera while the outer display gets a front camera. To fit everything inside the slim body, Face ID is moved away. Like modern iPads, a Touch ID sensor is embedded in the side button so you can unlock fast without taking up any space.


Foldables have layered hardware so battery life suffers. Apple responds by using high-density cells, the same kind of cell they plan to use in future thin iPhones. Even with the larger screen, all-day use is promised thanks to slimmer display drivers that make room for those batteries. After this year’s C1, Apple’s C2 modem brings better speeds and mmWave support for fast downloads in the US. Since there’s no physical SIM slot, the design is simplified to use eSIM only.

Gurman says Apple may add more options closer to launch, but for now colors are basic: black and white tests with suppliers. Production starts in China, with some shifts to India, with pilot runs in Taiwan by the end of 2025. A fall launch is supported by mass production in the second half of 2026 which matches that timeline. Pricing starts at around $2,000 and goes up to $2,300 or $2,500 depending on finishes and storage.
[Sources 1 | 2]