Apple is reportedly focusing on enhancing the battery life of its upcoming foldable iPhone despite its thin profile. Apple is prioritizing power efficiency by streamlining key components, such as the display driver IC (DDI), which converts digital signals to analog signals for the display. Streamlining the DDI can lead to a thinner panel assembly, reduced heat generation, and reduced power consumption, all of which are crucial for thin foldable devices.
The foldable iPhone should feature a book-style design like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, featuring an internal display of approximately 7.8 inches when it is unfolded and an outer cover display of approximately 5.5 inches. Both analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu agree with these specifications, which suggests that Apple has finalized the key points of the phone’s hardware.
The hardware had just started making its way into Foxconn’s New Product Introduction (NPI) stage, a crucial manufacturing milestone within Apple’s timeline. The large-scale production will officially start within the fourth quarter of 2026, and with it possibly seeing a gradual rollout as early as next year.
Hardware-wise, the foldable iPhone supposedly includes two rear cameras, one front-facing camera, and a Touch ID sensor on the power button. This means Apple will abandon Face ID on this model to keep internal space. The phone is said to include a high-density battery and titanium frame, and the hinge would be constructed from a combination of titanium and stainless steel.
The phone is reported to have thicknesses that will be much slimmer, at approximately 4.5mm when unfolded and 9mm to 9.5mm when closing, due to new material utilization and design optimizations.
Apple’s drive for longer battery life is also supported by advancements in display technology. Apple has been able to shrink the display driver IC from 28nm to 16nm, which is a boost to power efficiency. The smaller chip process allows for more power efficiency without sacrificing performance, a key consideration for extending battery life in foldable phones.
Furthermore, speculations suggest that the foldable iPhone will feature two batteries with a combined capacity of up to 5,000mAh, utilizing 3D stacked technology in an attempt to maintain capacity while maintaining size. This would provide Apple’s foldable phone with an advantage in terms of battery life, which many current foldables lack.
Overall, Apple’s focus on power efficiency and innovative design solutions ensures its foldable iPhone has stellar battery life regardless of its sleek profile, one of the greatest concerns that surrounds foldables.
