Apple readies foldable iPhone for 2026 with eSIM and side TouchID

Apple appears to be preparing its first foldable iPhone for a 2026 rollout, with details circulating that emphasize a book-style design, a multi-camera system, and a move away from physical SIM cards. Early sketches of the device describe a large inner display that folds out from a compact outer shell, a modular camera arrangement intended to maintain high photography standards whether the device is closed or open, and a biometric system that favors a side-mounted Touch ID over Face ID. The phone is also expected to rely on Apple’s own cellular modem technology and to ship without a physical SIM slot in most markets.

Design and display specifications circulating in industry chatter point to a two-screen approach that mirrors established foldables: a compact outer screen and a larger inner panel that opens to reveal a tablet-sized display. Estimates for the outer display center around a few inches, while the inner display is projected in the range of seven to eight inches when unfolded. A key design ambition is to reduce the visible crease in the hinge area, with reports suggesting a transition from on-cell to in-cell display technology and the use of a laser-drilled metal plate...