Apple is finally getting ready to fold. As of Friday, January 2, 2026, the rumors about the “iPhone Fold” (or iPhone Ultra) have hit a fever pitch. While Apple has spent years watching Samsung and Google from the sidelines, their 2026 entry is shaping up to be a total reset of the iPhone’s “Face ID-only” identity.
The thing is, Face ID is great, but it’s a space hog. Or nothing. Let’s be real, trying to fit the complex TrueDepth sensor array into a chassis that’s supposed to be “impossibly thin” just isn’t working for the foldable form factor. Those too.
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The Touch ID Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the old-school fingerprint sensor is making a high-tech comeback.
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The Location: Expect it on the side-mounted power button, similar to the current iPad Air and iPad mini.
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The “Kicker”: Leaks from Digital Chat Station and Ming-Chi Kuo suggest Apple is skipping under-display fingerprint tech for the Fold. Why? To keep the device at a target thickness of just 9mm when closed.
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Usability: A side-mounted sensor makes sense for a foldable—you can unlock it before you even unfurl the massive inner screen.
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What the “iPhone Fold” Looks Like
And here’s the kicker: this isn’t a “flip” phone. Apple is going for the book-style design.
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The Screens: A 5.5-inch outer display for quick checks and a massive 7.8-inch inner canvas that’s basically an iPad mini in your pocket.
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The “Sorcery”: Rumors say Apple has perfected a liquid metal hinge and a pressure-dispersing plate that makes the display “near-creaseless.” If they pull that off, it’s a game-changer.
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The Pixel Vibe: Design renders from Jon Prosser suggest a shorter, wider stance—very similar to the original Google Pixel Fold—rather than the tall, skinny look of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series.
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The 2026 Reality Check
It’s not all sunshine and folding glass.
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The Price Tag: Brace your wallet. Early estimates land between 1,999 and 2,400 (roughly ₹1.8 lakh to ₹2.25 lakh in India).
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The Chip: It’ll likely run the A20 Pro, Apple’s first 2nm chip, which should help with the massive battery drain of running two screens.
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Availability: Don’t expect to walk into a store and grab one on launch day. Supply is expected to be “extremely limited” through the end of 2026.
Basically, Apple is treating the Fold as a premium, low-volume “halo” product. They’re bringing back Touch ID not because they want to go backward, but because it’s the only way to keep the phone from feeling like a brick in your pocket.
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