Samsung launched its first phone with a foldable screen, the Galaxy Fold 5G, which also happens to be the world’s first commercially available phone with a foldable display, almost six years ago. Samsung’s direct rival in the smartphone market, Apple, is far behind in the race as it has still not launched a foldable phone. Reports suggest that it will come next year. Well, now a new report confirms that, suggesting that the rival to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 from Apple is on the way.

According to GF Securities’ Jeff Pu (via 9To5Mac), Apple is on track to release an iPhone with a foldable display in 2026. The analyst says that Apple will start mass-producing it in the second half of 2026. Earlier this month, Ming-Cho Kuo claimed that Apple would price the first foldable iPhone at more than $2,000. It will have a 7.8-inch inner screen and a 5.5-inch outer screen.

In 2026, Samsung may launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 that will arrive later this year. Considering the new report, it will have a direct rival from Apple, a first for a Galaxy Z Fold series device. Although Apple will be 8 years late to the race by then, it will be interesting to see what it comes up with and how people respond to it.

Last year, Apple launched the iPhone 16 series. One of the features Apple highlighted about the devices in the lineup is Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features similar to Google and Samsung. However, Apple has still not delivered many of those features in many regions, which has disappointed people, and left them with no reason to upgrade to iPhone 16.

That, reportedly, has lowered the demand for the iPhone 16 series. According to Jeff Pu, the foldable iPhone will change that. It will give people a reason to get a new iPhone and ultimately, increase the demand for phones from Apple. The Cupertino-based tech giant is also working on a device with an 18-inch foldable display. It may arrive as a foldable iPad or a foldable Mac.