CUPERTINO, Calif. — As March 2026 unfolds, speculation around Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone—often dubbed the iPhone Fold—intensifies, with supply-chain reports, analyst predictions and leaks pointing to a potential debut later this year. After years of persistent rumors dating back over a decade, credible sources increasingly converge on a fall 2026 launch, likely alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, marking Apple’s first entry into the foldable smartphone market dominated by Samsung, Google and others.

The device, expected to feature a book-style design that unfolds into a tablet-like screen, represents a significant shift for Apple, which has historically prioritized refinement over rushing into emerging categories. Analysts and insiders describe the iPhone Fold as a premium, high-end offering designed to wow loyal fans while addressing longstanding foldable pain points like visible creases and durability.

Development Status and Timeline

Multiple reports confirm Apple has advanced beyond prototypes. As early as July 2025, leaks indicated a first production prototype existed, followed by engineering validation testing (EVT) phases by late 2025. Foxconn, Apple’s primary manufacturing partner, reportedly entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) stage in early 2025 and is gearing up for mass production in the second half of 2026—potentially starting as soon as mid-year (June-July) to support a September unveiling.

Supply-chain watcher Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated in early March 2026 that the foldable targets a late-2026 release, with mass production kicking off in the second half. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has echoed this, suggesting a fall 2026 launch window, though some earlier predictions allowed for a 2027 slip due to design decisions like hinge mechanics. Recent updates, however, show momentum: Apple is stockpiling components, and mass production timelines align with traditional iPhone cycles.

A notable wrinkle emerged from Nikkei Asia and other Asian reports: Apple may alter its 2026 lineup strategy due to production constraints, memory shortages and focus on premium devices. The company could prioritize the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone Fold for September 2026, delaying the base iPhone 18 to early 2027. This shift underscores the foldable’s importance—Apple views it as a flagship innovation capable of driving upgrades.

Design and Key Specs

Leaks paint a picture of a premium book-style foldable (horizontal unfold, unlike clamshell flips). Key rumored features include:

• Crease-Free Display — A major breakthrough: the inner screen (around 7.8-8 inches) reportedly eliminates visible creases through advanced panel tech from Samsung Display, including Color Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) for slimmer, brighter and more efficient panels. Outer cover display is expected around 5.5-6 inches.
• Battery — A massive 5,500mAh capacity, surpassing even the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 5,088mAh, to support the larger unfolded form factor and power-hungry multitasking.
• Processor — Likely an A20-series chip (or variant), optimized for AI tasks, multitasking and efficiency in a foldable chassis.
• Durability and Hinge — Optimized hinge design keeps costs down (average selling price ~$70-80), with emphasis on robustness to meet Apple’s standards—no compromises on premium feel.
• Other Features — Expected to include advanced cameras (potentially four-lens setup), improved Apple Intelligence integration, and seamless iOS adaptations for folded/unfolded modes (hints of fold-specific software already exist in current iOS builds).

The design prioritizes Apple’s ecosystem strengths: fluid transitions between phone and tablet modes, enhanced productivity and entertainment without the durability trade-offs plaguing competitors.

Pricing and Market Expectations

Pricing remains a focal point, with estimates ranging from $1,800-$2,500, potentially making it Apple’s most expensive iPhone ever. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested hinge cost reductions could improve margins or slightly lower retail price, but the consensus leans toward premium positioning—$2,000+ to reflect exclusivity and advanced tech. Some predict Apple aims for 8-10 million units in the first year, with ambitions to double in 2027, signaling expectations of strong demand among loyalists eager for a “must-have” innovation.

Challenges and Competition

Apple enters a mature foldable market where Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, Google’s Pixel Fold and others have iterated for years. Competitors like Samsung continue pushing boundaries (e.g., tri-fold concepts), but Apple’s delayed entry allows time to observe flaws—durability, crease visibility, software optimization—and deliver a polished product. A clamshell “iPhone Flip” remains in development but appears delayed to 2027 or later, with the book-style Fold taking priority.

Critics question whether the high price and niche appeal will drive mass adoption, especially amid economic pressures and competition from affordable Android foldables. Yet Apple’s ecosystem lock-in, brand loyalty and marketing prowess could spark a significant upgrade cycle—some forecasts predict 10% overall iPhone sales growth in 2026 if the Fold lands well.

Outlook

As leaks accelerate—prototypes, renders and component stockpiles—expect more concrete details in coming months. If mass production begins mid-2026, major reveals (design, specs) could surface by summer, building hype for a September event. The iPhone Fold promises to redefine Apple’s smartphone lineup, blending phone convenience with tablet productivity in a crease-free package.

For now, the rumor mill churns: Apple’s foldable is no longer “if” but “when”—and 2026 appears increasingly likely. Fans and analysts watch closely as Cupertino prepares what could be its boldest iPhone evolution in years.

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in GAP over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference 2026 March 3, 2026 11:30 AM EST

Company Participants

Robert Thomas – Senior VP of IBM Software & Chief Commercial Officer

Conference Call Participants

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Erik Woodring – Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Presentation

Erik Woodring
Morgan Stanley, Research Division

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Well, let’s get started, guys. Thank you very much for joining us. Welcome to day 2 of the flagship TMT Conference. My name is Erik Woodring. I lead the U.S. IT hardware coverage here. I am delighted to be joined by Rob Thomas, IBM’s Head of Software and Chief Commercial Officer. But before we get started, I just need to read this disclosure statement. I need to mention that important disclosures can be found at the Morgan Stanley research disclosure website at www.morganstanley.com/researchdisclosures. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Morgan Stanley sales representative.

So Rob, thank you very much for joining us today.

Robert Thomas
Senior VP of IBM Software & Chief Commercial Officer

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Thanks for having me. Great to be with you.

Question-and-Answer Session

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Erik Woodring
Morgan Stanley, Research Division

So I think the best place to start maybe is just better understand how to think about the key drivers of growth for IBM. So exiting 2025, 3 of your 4 software subsegments were growing double digits. Mainframe had a record year, helping to offset maybe more tepid growth in services. So taking a step back as we think over kind of the medium term and beyond, what are the key growth drivers as we think about the IBM model? And let’s start from there.

Robert Thomas
Senior VP of IBM Software & Chief Commercial Officer

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So maybe go back to 2020 when Arvind Krishna took over. He had the insight that we can be uniquely

Sunil Gold India Ltd has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi to garner funds through an initial public offering (IPO).

The proposed IPO is a combination of a fresh issue of 2 crore equity shares and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 65 lakh shares by promoters Anil Jain and Shrenik Jain, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on Friday.

The company plans to utilise the fresh issue proceeds to the tune of Rs 200 crore to support working capital requirements and a portion would be used for general corporate purposes.

Founded in 2012 in Mumbai, the company began operations as a business-to-business (B2B) supplier of gold jewellery. It has since expanded its presence in Bengaluru through a partnership with Ratnaakar Gold.

Sunil Gold India designs and supplies handcrafted gold jewellery, specializing in contemporary, heritage and temple-inspired designs, along with other traditional styles.

It primarily serves the domestic market and supplies jewellery to customers across eight states and one union territory in India. It also exports to the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, with a significant share of revenue coming from repeat orders from existing clients.
In FY25, the company processed around 504.58 kg of gold. Its revenue stood at Rs 521 crore.

The company plans to list its shares on BSE and NSE. Unistone Capital is the sole book-running lead manager to the issue.

Global oil prices could soar to as high as $150 per barrel if the escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupts energy supplies from the Gulf, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi warned, cautioning that such a surge could deal a severe blow to the global economy. In an interview with the Financial Times, al-Kaabi said a prolonged war in the region could force Gulf energy exporters to shut down production within weeks.

He also noted that even if hostilities were to end immediately, it could still take “weeks to months” for Qatar to restore normal delivery cycles after an Iranian drone strike on the country’s largest liquefied natural gas facility.

This comes as Israel, the US and Iran continue to trade strikes for an eighth straight day. Just last week, before the conflict erupted, crude was hovering around $62 per barrel. By Friday, however, U.S. crude futures had spiked as much as 12% amid fears of supply disruptions before trimming some gains. Brent crude settled at $92.69 per barrel, up $7.28, or 8.52%, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) jumped $9.89, or 12.21%, to close at $90.90 per barrel.

Markets have been rattled as the escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping and energy exports through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. This narrow chokepoint between Iran and Oman normally carries around one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

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Why is this massive for us?

India imports the majority of its crude oil requirements, and about half of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 2.6 million barrels per day of India’s oil flows through the corridor.
The Middle East takes 17% of India’s goods exports, on par with the US and the EU, supplies 55% of its crude oil, and accounts for 38% of worker remittances, which amounted to $45 billion in FY24 alone, according to calculations by global brokerage firm Jefferies.For equity markets, a spike toward $150 oil would likely trigger a broad risk-off reaction. Higher energy costs raise input prices for companies, compress corporate margins and weaken consumer spending.

Historically, sectors such as aviation, paints, chemicals and logistics tend to face the most pressure when oil prices surge sharply. At the same time, upstream oil producers and energy companies typically benefit from higher crude prices.

Short-term price spikes triggered by geopolitical tensions often reverse if supply routes reopen quickly. However, a sustained disruption to Gulf exports could push global markets into a period of higher inflation, weaker growth and increased volatility.

How will the Indian stock market open on Monday?

The Indian equity markets are likely to begin the upcoming week on a cautious note as global risk sentiment has deteriorated sharply. The current trend in GIFT Nifty, which closed around the 24,300 level, indicates a bearish undertone compared with the previous Nifty close near 24,450, Hariprasad K of Livelong Wealth said.

This combination of macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical risk is likely to influence market sentiment in the near term. Unless there is a positive development in the Middle East conflict that brings crude oil prices lower, Indian markets could witness continued volatility.

From a technical perspective, Pravesh Gour of Swastika Investmart said that Nifty is taking support near 24,300 but remains highly volatile. On the upside, the 24,900 to 25,000 range is expected to act as an immediate supply zone, where selling pressure could emerge if the index attempts a recovery. On the downside, 24,300 remains the first key support, and if the index slips below this level, 23,800 will be the next important support area that traders will closely monitor.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday moved to dismiss a civil fraud lawsuit it had filed against crypto billionaire Justin Sun, who became a major investor in President Trump’s cryptocurrency projects as he pursued leniency from U.S. law enforcers. A company previously affiliated with Sun agreed, without admitting or denying wrongdoing, to pay a $10 million fine to resolve the SEC’s allegations that its employees manipulated the market for a crypto asset known as TRX. The settlement requires court approval.