Foldable iPhone with Touch ID? Apple is gearing up for a blast from the past.

Foldable iPhone in 2026

Rumours about a foldable iPhone have been circulating since 2017, when the first Apple patents related to flexible screens began to emerge online. Now Bloomberg reports that 2026 will be a groundbreaking moment – that’s when we expect to see the first iPhone with a foldable screen. Interestingly, it will not only feature a new design but also a return of a function that many thought was definitively abandoned: Touch ID.

Return of Touch ID – Apple loves these moves

The last iPhone with Touch ID was the iPhone SE 3 from 2022. After that, Apple consistently focused on Face ID, and users slowly got used to the absence of a physical button. So why the return? We don’t know the official reasons, but we've seen a similar story before – in 2020, with the iPhone 12, the company refreshed the MagSafe brand, previously known from MacBooks. Apple loves these “nostalgic returns” that strengthen the marketing of new devices.

Screen Technology – in-cell instead of on-cell

According to leaks, Apple has dropped the on-cell technology, where the touch sensor layer is placed above the display. Instead, they opted for in-cell, which integrates sensors directly within the screen. This is significant for foldable devices – as a result, the smartphone will be thinner and the crease less visible.

The first foldable iPhone is expected to be available in four colour variants: white, black, light blue, and light gold. Rumours also suggest it will feature four cameras, bringing it closer to the Pro line than the standard models.

And what about earlier? iPhone Air in 2025

However, before we get our hands on a foldable, in September 2025, Apple is set to unveil a new offering – the ultra-thin iPhone Air. This will be something completely different: just one camera, a basic A19 chip, and a minimalist design. It sounds like an experiment in the spirit of the iPhone 5C or the first MacBook Air – devices that were meant to test whether the market would accept more unconventional solutions.

History likes to repeat itself

It's worth recalling that the first iPhone from 2007 had neither Face ID nor Touch ID – just a regular passcode. Touch ID only appeared in the 2013 iPhone 5s, and it was a breakthrough at the time. Now, over a decade later, it returns in the most futuristic iPhone we've ever seen. It's a beautiful bookend for Apple fans: from a simple fingerprint to the flexible screens of the future.