Apple is reportedly already planning its third-generation foldable iPhone even before its first foldable model reaches consumers, with the future device potentially launching as early as 2028.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s foldable iPhone roadmap extends two generations beyond the first model. A second-generation device is planned for 2027, while a third-generation version could follow as early as 2028.
Image reference: Apple Foldable Thumb.
Apple’s Foldable iPhone Roadmap Extends to 2028
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple’s first foldable iPhone is about to receive what he described as its first “truly revolutionary design change” this year.
Apple already has plans extending another two generations beyond that device. The second-generation foldable is planned for 2027, while the third version could arrive as early as 2028.
This is the first report to outline plans for a third-generation foldable iPhone, extending Apple’s reported foldable roadmap one year beyond where it previously stood.
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iPhone Ultra 3 Could Get Larger Displays
The main reported change for the third-generation foldable concerns its displays.
Gurman said both the inner display and the outside cover display will apparently be slightly larger than those on its predecessors, although he did not provide exact screen sizes.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to launch with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, meaning any increase on the third-generation model would build on those expected dimensions.
First Foldable iPhone Expected in 2026
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive in 2026 with an ultra-thin design.
Current reports indicate that the device could use Touch ID instead of Face ID, Apple’s A20 chip, and a C2 modem. It may also use the “iPhone Ultra” name and could be priced at around or above $2,000.
The device would establish the first generation of Apple’s foldable iPhone lineup before the subsequent models currently appearing in the reported roadmap.
Second-Generation Foldable Planned for 2027
Apple is also reportedly moving forward with development of the second-generation foldable iPhone.
The Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station previously said that the “iPhone Ultra 2” project had been formally approved for development.
That model is expected to reuse the first-generation device’s display rather than introduce a significant screen-size change.
Its launch is reportedly planned for fall 2027 alongside Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone.
Third Generation Could Bring the Next Display Upgrade
If the reported roadmap remains unchanged, Apple could launch its first foldable iPhone in 2026, follow it with a second generation in 2027, and introduce the third generation as early as 2028.
Unlike the second-generation model, which is expected to retain the first model’s display, the third-generation foldable is currently expected to receive slightly larger screens on both the inside and outside.
No exact display dimensions, price, hardware specifications, or other design changes have been disclosed for the third-generation device, and Apple has not officially announced any of the foldable iPhones described in these reports.
