Apple is reportedly preparing to enter the foldable phone market next year with its first-ever foldable iPhone, unofficially referred to as the iPhone Fold or iPhone 18 Fold. According to multiple leaks, the device will feature a book-style design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, though Apple’s version may introduce a unique aspect ratio.
A new report from Korean outlet ETNews adds an intriguing detail: Apple is also developing a Flip-style foldable iPhone, expected to launch in 2028.
Apple’s Foldable Roadmap: From Fold to Flip
The clamshell-style iPhone Flip is said to arrive one year after Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027. Industry watchers speculate that Apple may market that milestone model as the iPhone 20, following a naming trend reminiscent of the 2017 iPhone X, which celebrated the iPhone’s 10th anniversary.
According to Kim Ki-hyun, director at research firm Stone Partners, Apple’s upcoming devices will incorporate several cutting-edge display innovations. Speaking at the ETNews Tech Summit, Kim detailed the technologies the company is developing for both the iPhone 20 and the foldable lineup.
Kim also suggested Apple is gradually expanding OLED adoption across its product range. The iPad mini and MacBook Pro are expected to receive OLED panels in 2026, the iPad Air in 2027, and the MacBook Air sometime after 2028. A foldable iPad, however, appears to be on hold until after 2029, with a new LTPO+ display technology planned.
Display Innovations in the iPhone 20
Apple’s iPhone 20, expected in 2027, will reportedly debut several significant display advancements, including:
- LTPO+ OLED panels – An evolution of current LTPO screens, offering reduced costs and improved efficiency.
- Four-sided banding display – Nearly bezel-free edges achieved by subtly curving all four sides of the screen.
- Color-filter-on-encapsulation (COE) – Eliminates the polarizer layer for thinner designs and better display
efficiency. - Under-display integrated sensor (UDIR) – Allows Apple to move Face ID components beneath the screen, minimizing
or removing the Dynamic Island cutout. - “Crater” brightness technology – A new method to equalize brightness across the display, reducing luminance
variation between the center and edges of the OLED panel.
These features suggest Apple’s 2027 iPhone could mark one of the most ambitious display upgrades since the introduction of OLED on the iPhone X.
The iPhone Flip: Apple’s 2028 Foldable Vision
By 2028, Apple reportedly plans to diversify its foldable offerings with the iPhone Flip, a clamshell-style handset that complements the book-type iPhone Fold.
Kim noted that the Flip will integrate existing and emerging display technologies, such as COE and LTPO OLED, alongside new breakthroughs including:
- CPM and Clear OC – Screen technologies designed to enhance light transmittance and visual clarity.
- Under-display camera (UDC) – Enables an invisible front camera without a notch or punch-hole cutout.
- Glass Mid Frame (GMF) – A hinge innovation intended to reduce display creasing.
If these predictions prove accurate, the iPhone 20 could be Apple’s first model with under-display Face ID, followed by the iPhone Flip incorporating an under-display selfie camera—setting the stage for a fully uninterrupted screen experience across future Apple devices.
