The logo of the Apple store on Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong, Seoul./Courtesy of News1

Apple is expected to release a 'foldable' iPhone next year.

Guo Mingqi, an analyst at Taiwan's TF International Securities, noted on the 18th (local time) that Apple plans to release a 'premium' priced foldable iPhone based on the Asian electronic components supply chain.

Guo Mingqi wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that Apple’s iPhone assembly partner Foxconn is expected to start the foldable iPhone project in the latter part of the third quarter or early fourth quarter.

He said, 'Currently, many specifications for parts have not yet been finalized,' but he projected that the display is likely to be supplied by Samsung Display.

He also explained that Samsung Display plans to establish an annual production capacity of 7 million to 8 million foldable panels to supply the 2026 foldable iPhone.

Apple is reportedly collaborating with Samsung Display to eliminate the crease in the center of the display, which is one of the drawbacks of currently available Android foldables.

The price has not yet been disclosed, but the foldable iPhone is expected to be more expensive than existing iPhones.