According to a report by The Information on Tuesday, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is working on a foldable iPhone with a potential release by 2026.
The foldable phone would resemble the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip with a clamshell design that folds horizontally, the publications said sources told them.
While Apple is known to abandon projects late in development, it is said there is no guarantee it would release the foldable phone. However, the potentially new concept iPhone would mark a significant shift in iPhone design history.
Apple previously explored foldable concepts in various sizes, but the V68 codename signifies the project's official development stage with supplier involvement, The Information reported.
Standard iPhones take roughly 24 months to manufacture, but a foldable model might take longer due to the new technology.
Technical hurdles remain, such as eliminating the crease on the folded display, a challenge Apple has faced for years, according to The Information.
Additionally, it is reported that designers previously aimed for a foldable iPhone half as thin as current models when closed, which may have been addressed with the upcoming thinner iPhone codenamed D23.
Another reported challenge has been justifying the high cost of a foldable iPhone with compelling features.
Looking ahead, The Information also said there are several planned iPhone upgrades, with the upcoming iPhone 16 said to introduce a new, pressure-sensitive button for capturing photos and videos.
Additionally, the smaller iPhone 16 models will reportedly offer a slightly easier battery replacement for repair shops. The report says all iPhone 16 models will have a larger graphite sheet to combat overheating issues, and some will receive the high-end optical zoom lens previously exclusive to the most expensive iPhone 15.
Furthermore, they state that mass production of a new iPhone SE (codenamed V59) is expected to begin in October, suggesting a release before the winter holidays or Lunar New Year.
Finally, at least one iPhone model next year will boast a user-controllable aperture for more natural depth-of-field effects, The Information reported.