San Francisco, 03:35 PST, January 21, 2026
- Citi analyst Atif Malik predicts Apple’s debut foldable iPhone will be priced around $2,000, with shipments reaching roughly 8 million units in 2026.
- A popular leaker dismissed rumors that the iPhone 18 Pro’s front camera will move to the top-left corner, attributing the confusion to a translation error.
- Another analyst note hints at a smaller Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro, along with a foldable model featuring Touch ID.
Citi analyst Atif Malik predicts Apple will price its first foldable iPhone near $2,000, with shipments hitting around 8 million units in 2026. That figure could climb to 20 million units in 2027, according to reports released Tuesday. Yahoo Tipranks Indexbox
Apple now confronts a familiar challenge: convincing iPhone users to upgrade is getting tougher, and premium models must offer a compelling reason to switch. Introducing a foldable iPhone could create a fresh high-end segment for Apple, entering a market it has so far only observed from the sidelines.
Rumors are swirling about the iPhone 18 Pro’s front design. For suppliers and investors, the Pro models are crucial since Apple’s fall launch often centers on them. Even minor design tweaks can shake up component strategies.
Foldable phones feature flexible screens paired with a hinge that lets them unfold into a bigger display. They usually come with a higher price tag than regular smartphones. Samsung Electronics and various Android manufacturers have driven this market, while Google’s Pixel foldables are also making a push in the premium segment.
Tipster Instant Digital shot down rumors that Apple will relocate the iPhone 18 Pro’s front camera to the top-left corner. He called that claim “a complete misinformation,” attributing it to a mistranslation from English. Appleinsider
The dispute is significant because it hints at a subtler change: a smaller Dynamic Island instead of a completely new cutout. Dynamic Island, that pill-shaped black section atop the iPhone screen, not only holds sensors but also serves as a status and alert zone on-screen.
In an investor note dated Jan. 15, analyst Jeff Pu hinted that Apple’s 2026 lineup might feature a foldable iPhone with Touch ID, Apple’s fingerprint authentication, replacing Face ID. Pu also mentioned a “smaller Dynamic Island” on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, 9to5Mac reported. 9To5Mac
Mashable highlighted incorrect translation as a key reason behind the iPhone 18 Pro redesign rumors, backing up Instant Digital’s skepticism. Mashable
Malik predicts the foldable will make up just around 3% of Apple’s total iPhone sales in 2026, marking a modest launch. But he expects a more significant boost in 2027. At the same time, he lowered his price target for Apple, pointing to the threat of rising memory component costs eating into margins.
Forecasts about unannounced devices often shift unexpectedly. Apple might tweak designs late in the process, foldable production yields could fall short, and a $2,000 price point might limit the market, even if the hardware launches as planned.
So far, the common thread in the reports is clear: smaller cutouts, additional sensors tucked under the glass, and potentially a new premium model if Apple decides to enter the foldable arena. Neither device has been officially confirmed by Apple.
