AAPL Stock Ticks Up Premarket As New Foldable iPhone Details Emerge

• Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to launch around Sept. 9 and would be the company’s most significant new product in years.
• The device is expected to be priced at over $2,000.
• Despite its premium price, the phone will reportedly lack a telephoto camera and Face ID.

Apple’s forthcoming foldable iPhone will reportedly be durable and pocketable, with iPad-like app layouts when unfolded and a strong camera viewfinder, but it will lack a telephoto camera and Face ID, according to a Bloomberg report.

AAPL stock rose 0.2% in early premarket trading on Monday. 

The report, based on a Bloomberg reporter’s interactions with people who have used the device, revealed key attributes of what will be the iPhone’s most significant design upgrade since its launch in 2007.    

People who have used the iPhone praised the feel and durability of its advanced hinge mechanism, as well as how easily it fits into a pocket. The larger internal display also supports new iPad-like app layouts.

iPhone Fold Expected To Be Priced Over $2,000 

The device is expected to be unveiled at an Apple event around Sept. 9 and will be over $2,000, according to the Bloomberg report. That makes the absence of a telephoto camera a notable drawback, particularly for buyers who expect Apple’s most expensive iPhone to offer its most advanced camera system.

The foldable iPhone will reportedly use Touch ID instead of Face ID for authentication. While that could feel like a step backward, Apple has used fingerprint authentication successfully on its Macs and iPads.

The new form factor could nevertheless make the device one of Apple’s most important launches in years. The company has produced fewer breakthrough products in recent years compared with the period following the original iPhone, while foldables offer a way to combine the convenience of a smartphone with the larger screen of a tablet.

Analysts’ View On iPhone Fold, Launch Strategy 

Last week, Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded AAPL stock to ‘Buy’ from ‘Neutral’ and raised its price target on the stock to $400 from $260, citing strong sales expectations on the back of Apple’s entry into the foldable market.

The research firm said it sees iPhone sales growing 12% annually through 2030, and expressed confidence that its AI strategy would provide tailwinds for the overall business.

The foldable iPhone could be an instant hit with consumers, but it might take time to ramp up production and shipments, Apple and chip analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said last month.

The Taiwanese analyst had forecast foldable iPhone shipments would total 7 million to 8 million units in the second half of 2026, with only 500,000 to 1 million units expected in the third quarter.

By comparison, shipments of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are estimated at 20-22 million units in the third quarter, sufficient to support a regular launch.

Apple, A Late Entry In Foldables Market

Apple is late to the foldable market, with Samsung, Huawei and Google having already spent years developing the category. But the iPhone maker’s huge installed base and brand could introduce millions of consumers to foldable phones for the first time.

The launch could also have implications for Apple’s broader strategy, particularly in China. Foldables accounted for only about 1.6% of global smartphone shipments in 2025, but China represented more than half of worldwide shipments, with over 10 million units sold.

With local rivals such as Huawei aggressively pushing new smartphone designs, the foldable iPhone could give Apple a much-needed premium hardware product in one of its most important markets. 

The iPhone fold will be part of the first set of launches under John Ternus, who will take over as CEO on Sept. 1. Apple is currently riding high on the back of the success of the iPhone 17 line, which has powered a steady rise in the company’s shares this year.

Retail View On AAPL

AAPL stock rose 1.1% last week and is up 14.1% year to date. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for AAPL was ‘bearish.’

“$AAPL because AAPL lies and tries to copy everyone else, they have nothing except a laptop and phones and all commercials show that the foldable phone is already being bought by everyone through [An]droid,” a trader said on Stocktwits’ Apple stream.

AAPL stock has gained over 14% year to date.

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Read Next: Nvidia Reportedly Plans To Put More Money In Perplexity Amid Circular Deal Concerns: Critic Says Chipmaker ‘Bailing Out’ AI Firms