A fall reveal, followed by December availability? It’s possible.
By Stan Schroeder on March 20, 2026
We might have to wait a little longer than anticipated for Apple’s iPhone Fold. Analyst Tim Long mentioned in a new research note for Barclays (via MacRumors) that the iPhone Fold’s shipments will likely start in December 2026, a few months after the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are launched.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the iPhone Fold won’t launch in September alongside other flagships. Apple may announce it in September and release it a few months later, similar to the iPhone X.
Previous reports suggested all three iPhone flagships would launch in Apple’s usual September timeframe; this is the first rumor about the Fold arriving months later.
Long also expects Apple’s base model, the iPhone 18, to launch in March 2027, indicating a possible skip in 2026. Apple might also launch the iPhone 18e and possibly an upgraded iPhone Air or an iPhone 18 Plus alongside the iPhone 18.
The iPhone “Plus” model was discontinued in 2025, replaced by the super-thin iPhone Air. Rumors about the possible return of an iPhone Plus instead of a new iPhone Air are surprising, though reports of poor iPhone Air sales lend some credibility.
Topics:
Apple, iPhone
Stan Schroeder is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he’s been since 2007. With an interest in groundbreaking tech, he writes about phones, coins, and cars. His ultimate goal is broad knowledge across various fields.