Apple's Foldable iPhone Rumors Gain Steam As Stock Slides: Could A $2,000 Device Spark A Comeback?

Technology giant Apple Inc AAPL is one of many large-cap stocks trading down year-to-date in 2025. The stock could have multiple catalysts coming, including new details about a long-rumored foldable iPhone.

What Happened: Apple has been working on a foldable iPhone for many years according to past reports and the phone could be coming as soon as 2026.

New details continue to emerge on the upcoming Apple smartphone, including recent leaks seeming to confirm past reports of a price tag that could be north of $2,000.

A new report from 9to5Mac highlights some of the technical features of the reported foldable iPhone.

According to the report, the phone being referenced as the iPhone Fold will have a punch-hole camera with Touch ID power button to unlock the device.

This would mean no Dynamic Island for the phone’s outer display, and instead, the front-facing camera would be used through a single punch hole.

For months, those reporting on the new Apple smartphone have been seeking to learn whether Apple would go for the flip or fold approach to the expandable phone. New reports indicate that the phone will fold and could turn a normal-sized iPhone into an iPad mini-sized device.

The new report indicates that using a Touch ID power button means there is not enough room for Face ID on the device.

Read Also: When Apple’s Tim Cook Revealed The Real Reason iPhones Are Made In China—And It’s Not ‘Low Labor Costs’: ‘China Stopped Being A Low-Wage Country Years Ago’

Why It's Important: The new report, which cites data from the yeux1122 blog and Chinese social media site Weibo, says the punch hole solution would be similar to existing foldables.

This likely references foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold according to the report.

While foldable smartphones make up a small percent of the overall smartphone market, Apple’s entry into the space could serve as a true test of demand and key features available within the technology.

With chatbots becoming more predominantly used and smartphones functioning as more than just a phone, the ability to expand to a larger out-of-pocket device could become a feature consumers turn to and never look back on again.

Apple had 19% global smartphone share in the first quarter, helped by the launch of the iPhone 16e launch.

First released in 2007, the iPhone has been one of the keys to Apple's growth. There are concerns that the unit will not have as high growth as previous years and owners are less likely to trade in their devices or upgrade to new models annually without compelling features.

In the most recently reported first quarter, Apple saw its iPhone revenue fall from $69.7 billion to $69.1 billion on a year-over-year basis.

Hoping for new signs of growth, Apple has launched the more affordable iPhone 16e and could have more news on the way about a foldable phone to win over investors. A foldable smartphone has been in the works for Apple for years with CEO Tim Cook speaking to engineers about a foldable iPhone back in 2018, suggesting it as a key priority for the future.

Along with a foldable iPhone, Apple is also working on a foldable device with an 18-inch screen, which would likely be a new Mac or iPad.

AAPL Price Action: Apple stock is down 2.7% to $196.72 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $164.08 to $260.09. Apple stock is down 19.3% year-to-date in 2025, while shares are up 16.1% over the last year.

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