Apple’s Foldable iPhone: A 20th Anniversary Game-Changer?
- Attila Buyer
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
As of April 7, 2025, Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is shaping up to be a marquee event tied to the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027. First introduced by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, the iPhone hits its two-decade milestone in 2027, and reports suggest Apple’s planning a “major shake-up” to celebrate—headlined by its first foldable device. Helmed by Skyfall director Sam Mendes (kidding—he’s doing the Beatles films; this is pure Apple R&D), the foldable iPhone’s buzz is hitting fever pitch. Here’s what we know and what it might mean.
The Plan: Foldable iPhone for 2027
Apple’s been teasing the foldable frontier since at least 2016, but the 20th anniversary pegs it firmly. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in his April 6, 2025, Power On newsletter, reports Apple’s prepping a foldable iPhone alongside a “bold new Pro model” for 2027—20 years after the iPhone’s debut. This aligns with whispers from supply chain insiders like Jeff Pu, who told 9to5Mac in March 2025 that mass production kicks off in late 2026, teeing up a 2027 launch. The Elec’s January 2025 scoop flagged 2027 as a symbolic year—also the 10th anniversary of the OLED iPhone X—making it a fitting moment for a design leap.
The foldable’s design? Think Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, not Z Flip. It’s a book-style device—5.5-inch outer screen when closed, 7.8-inch inner display when open, per Ming-Chi Kuo (MacRumors, March 2025). Apple’s obsessed with a crease-free look, reportedly cracking it with new materials and a liquid-metal hinge (MacRumors, March 27, 2025). At 4.5mm unfolded (thinner than the 5.1mm iPad Pro) and 9-9.5mm folded, it’s a sleek beast leveraging iPhone 17 Air tech (Bloomberg, March 16, 2025). Price? Brace yourself—$2,000-$2,500, says Gurman, making it Apple’s priciest iPhone yet.
Why Now? The Anniversary Angle
Apple loves a milestone—iPhone X dropped for the 10th anniversary in 2017 with Face ID and no home button. A foldable for the 20th feels like the next big swing. Posts on X hype it as “revolutionary,” with @applesclubs citing a 4:3 aspect ratio (iPad-style) for software synergy. It’s not just nostalgia—Apple’s trailing in the foldable race (Samsung’s on Z Fold 6), and 2027’s a chance to leapfrog with polish. The iPhone 17 Air, out later this year at 5.5mm thin (9to5Mac, March 23, 2025), is the proving ground—testing slim tech for the foldable’s debut.
Buzz and Backlash
The early 2025 vibe is split. X users like @XavierNaxa (March 29) call it a “revolution,” but skepticism’s rife—@MacRumors comments flag it as “two years away since 2018.” Tariffs from Trump’s April 9, 2025, policy (25% on steel, 20% on China imports) could juice costs (PhoneArena, April 6), pushing that $2,500 ceiling higher. Still, Apple’s got the Beatles films’ hype in 2028 to keep fans hooked—maybe a foldable teaser ties in?
My Take
This feels real—2027’s too perfect, and Apple’s too meticulous to miss it. A foldable iPhone at $2,000-plus screams luxury, not mass-market, but that’s Apple’s play: premium, polished, late-to-the-party perfection. The crease-free flex and iPad-mini size could redefine pocket screens—imagine Sinners’ juke joint chaos on that 7.8-inch OLED. Risks? Durability (glass-heavy Pro vibes worry me) and price shock. If it lands, it’s the iPhone X of the 2020s—bold, divisive, iconic. You buying at that price, or folding on the hype?
