April 18, 2026, 9:25 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Apple is one of the last major smartphone manufacturers without its own foldable product line. This could finally change in 2026. However, with the new form factor, a feature is expected to return to the iPhone that was last seen in 2022.
Bloomberg confirms in a report a rumor that has been circulating among insiders since at least March 2025. At that time, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that due to the flat casing, there would be no room for Face ID technology in the iPhone Fold.
Touch ID returns with iPhone Fold
To still offer a secure biometric unlocking method, Apple might bring back Touch ID. Similar to the iPad and iPad Air, the technology is likely to be integrated into the side button. The last iPhone SE had a Home Button with Touch ID. In the successor, iPhone 16e, Apple is opting for a more modern design with a larger display and Face ID.
Apart from the return to Touch ID, the Bloomberg report contains a lot of additional details about the iPhone Fold. Like the other iPhone models, Apple is also expected to forgo a physical SIM card slot here. Especially for a foldable, whose halves need to be particularly thin, this offers a space advantage. It is likely to be a “book-style” foldable, which folds along the vertical axis, unlike “flip” models. Thus, when closed, it looks like a regular iPhone but can be unfolded to tablet size.
Launch targeted for 2026
Despite being positioned as a premium device, the iPhone Fold is expected to have only two cameras on the back–a main camera and an ultra-wide-angle. Additionally, there will be a selfie camera on both the outer and inner displays. A feature it shares with the iPhone 18 Pro models is the C2 modem. The second generation of Apple’s own modem is expected to compete with Qualcomm’s high-end models for the first time.
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According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing the iPhone Fold under the codename “V68.” The company is currently testing black and white variants of the device with suppliers. Based on this timeline, a launch in September 2026 is possible.