Apple’s Next Foldable iPhone Shifts Shipment Projections Significantly

Apple is on the verge of significantly broadening its Total Addressable Market (TAM) with the anticipated launch of a foldable smartphone as part of its iPhone series next year. This innovative form factor, currently referred to as the iPhone Fold, has already begun to influence analysts’ projections concerning iPhone shipments, even amidst speculation of potential delays pushing the launch to 2027.

Apple’s Foldable iPhone Expected to Drive Increased Shipment Estimates

An insightful report from the Financial Times leverages Visible Alpha’s updated iPhone shipment estimates to highlight some key trends and projections regarding Apple’s new devices.

Bar chart titled Apple's iPhone revenue will return to growth this year showing estimates from 2025 to 2028. — Visible Alpha’s Apple iPhone Shipment Estimates, as Quoted by the Financial Times

Key Insights from the Report:

The launch of Apple’s iPhone 17 series has marked the company’s most robust growth phase since the pandemic’s onset.
Projected iPhone revenue is expected to increase by approximately 4% year-over-year in FY 2025, reaching around $209.3 billion.
Adding to this momentum, Apple’s iPhone revenue for FY 2026 could climb to about $218.9 billion.
Despite this revenue growth, iPhone shipment volumes are anticipated to remain flat at roughly 235 million units for FY 2025 and FY 2026.
With the introduction of the foldable iPhone, shipment estimates could rise to an expected 240 million units in FY 2027.
By the end of the decade, iPhone shipment volumes may soar to 260 million units.

Additional Context:

Apple’s fiscal year concludes in September, meaning the company is currently navigating FY 2026.
The discussion surrounding FY 2025’s financial outcomes will culminate when Apple releases its latest earnings report later this October.

Launch Timeline and Challenges for Apple’s Foldable iPhone

Recent reports suggest that the intricacies associated with developing a foldable display and its hinge mechanism might delay the iPhone Fold’s debut until 2027. Industry analysts from Mizuho have indicated a reduction in Apple’s initial production goals for the display panels, scaling back from 13 million units to just 9 million.

Current projections suggest that the iPhone 18 Air, 18 Pro, and 18 Pro Max are expected to be unveiled in the fall of 2026, while the iPhone 18e along with the foldable iPhone could launch in the first quarter of 2027.

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