Apple has just unveiled the iPhone Air - its thinnest iPhone ever. But insiders say that title may be short-lived, with the upcoming iPhone Fold set to steal the spotlight.

A breakthrough in design: thinner than ever before

Although the iPhone Fold is not expected until fall 2026, rumors surrounding the device - Apple’s first foldable iPhone - are already making waves.

Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the iPhone Fold, when fully opened, will measure only 4.5 to 4.8mm thick, making it nearly 1mm thinner than the already razor-thin iPhone Air (5.64mm). That equates to a 20% reduction in thickness, setting a new benchmark in Apple’s quest for ultra-slim design.

When folded, the device will be approximately 9 to 9.5mm thick, on par with the current iPhone 17 Pro (8.75mm). This makes it easy to carry in a pocket or bag, while offering a dramatically sleek experience when unfolded.

Thickness comparison of the latest iPhones:

These numbers reflect Apple’s significant leap in optimizing form factor. Achieving such an unprecedented thinness in a foldable phone is a milestone that even Android pioneers in the foldables race may find difficult to match.

Beyond thinness, the iPhone Fold is also expected to maintain Apple’s reputation for premium, meticulously crafted design. With its ultra-thin profile when unfolded and familiar form factor when folded, Apple appears to have cracked the code for blending novelty with practicality - something foldable users have long awaited.

If these leaks prove true, the iPhone Fold will be a showcase of Apple’s ability to push boundaries in both engineering and user experience.

A strategic move

The launch of the iPhone Fold isn’t just about introducing a new product - it’s a bold statement from Apple in the high-end smartphone market.

While competitors like Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi have all released foldables in recent years, Apple has taken its time - quietly observing, perfecting, and now preparing to enter the fray with what could be the most refined foldable phone to date.

Experts believe the iPhone Fold could be a game-changer, redefining the foldable smartphone segment, which has struggled to strike the right balance between form factor, durability, and user experience.

Even as the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and iPhone Air have garnered praise in 2025, the tech world is already eyeing 2026 as a potentially historic year - when Apple might officially unveil the iPhone Fold.

More than just a product expansion, the iPhone Fold could reshape the design language of future smartphones.

Should it prove thinner than the iPhone Air, Apple will have once again demonstrated its leadership in hardware innovation - not merely following trends, but redefining them.

Apple’s rumored development of an ultra-thin iPhone Fold reflects a long-term strategy grounded in precision and patience. What was once considered an "impossible" design is now seemingly within reach.

Consumers have every reason to believe the iPhone Fold could be Apple’s most iconic release since the original iPhone in 2007 - one that may usher in a new era for the brand’s most legendary product line.

Hai Phong