Apple follows Samsung’s lead. It will release a “new class” of iPhone. The date has been dropped

Korean Samsung pioneered the foldable phone segment in 2019, with the Galaxy Z Flip 6. It’s a foldable smartphone with a 6.7-inch screen. The product won praise from reviewers for its design. Now, Apple is following in the footsteps of its technological rival.

The foldable iPhone is expected to hit the market in 2026.

Apple’s revolutionary plans were revealed by the technology website , which reports that work on the foldable iPhone has already moved beyond the idea phase. The new product is expected to appear on the market as early as 2026. According to media reports, the company has asked suppliers in Asia to supply components for the device. The iPhone manufacturer has given the product an internal codename of V68. According to Reuters, Apple expects that foldable smartphones equipped with artificial intelligence functions will stimulate demand for the company’s products, which is facing strong competition from companies such as Huawei and Samsung.

The foldable smartphone market has grown significantly

According to a report from Counterpoint Research in May this year, the global foldable smartphone market grew by 49% in the first quarter compared to a year earlier, marking the highest growth rate in six quarters. Huawei topped the list for the first time, overtaking Samsung. Among other things, Apple plans to introduce an improved camera in at least one iPhone model. The modification would allow users to control the size of the aperture using a mechanical system. This would potentially enable a depth-of-field effect. The American giant is also working on a “significantly thinner” iPhone for next year’s launch. The thinner design would reportedly usher in a “new class” of Apple devices, including thinner and lighter Apple Watches, MacBook Pro laptops and iPad tablets.