Apple foldable iPhone delayed to 2027, says Mizuho

Apple's much-anticipated first foldable iPhone may not arrive until 2027 as the company continues to finalize key mechanical and display elements, according to a research note from Mizuho Securities. The delay or constrained initial supply stems largely from unresolved hinge and screen design choices, which officials and analysts say remain critical to performance and durability for a foldable handset.

Mizuho's analysis places the inner display at about 7.58 inches and the external cover screen at roughly 5.38 inches, both using low-temperature polycrystalline oxide backplanes with variable refresh rates. The firm also expects Apple to adopt Color on Encap, a display stack approach that removes the polarizer to boost brightness and efficiency, and a hole-punch front camera layout. Samsung Display is reported to be the panel supplier for the device.

Production forecasts for foldable panels have been trimmed in recent months. Initial estimates of 13 million units were reduced first to 11 million and then to roughly 9 million, Mizuho said. Even if Apple proceeds with a 2026 launch, the firm projects first-year shipments for the foldable could be limited to about 5 to 7 million...