A recurring set of analyst and supply-chain rumors suggests Apple’s first foldable iPhone, expected in 2026, may bring Touch ID back to the iPhone lineup in the form of a fingerprint sensor integrated into a side button. The device is widely referred to as "iPhone Fold" in rumor coverage, though Apple has not confirmed any foldable iPhone plans.
The Touch ID claim has appeared repeatedly across foldable-iPhone reporting, with the most common rationale tied to space constraints. In a foldable chassis, Face ID’s component stack is often described as harder to accommodate while maintaining a thin profile, particularly in a device designed to fold into a more compact form. Touch ID, when integrated into a side button, is positioned as a simpler alternative that reduces the volume required for front-facing depth-sensing components.
MacRumors’ foldable-iPhone reporting has pointed to Touch ID as part of the broader expectation set around Apple’s foldable strategy, framing it as a space-saving hardware decision. Additional rumor coverage in Europe has also described Touch ID returning as part of a wider package of foldable device claims, including hinge materials, chassis construction, and dimensions.
Beyond biometrics, multiple reports describe Apple pursuing a book-style fold rather than a clamshell format. Rumor roundups frequently emphasize a focus on hinge durability and reducing visible crease artifacts, along with premium positioning in pricing and materials. Some reporting ties the launch window to the second half of 2026.
The reports fit a longer-running pattern in Apple biometric design, where Touch ID and Face ID have alternated as Apple responds to industrial design constraints. Apple previously brought Touch ID to side buttons on iPad models, demonstrating a hardware approach that could be extended to a foldable iPhone form factor. A side-mounted sensor could also help maintain usability across folded and unfolded states without requiring under-display fingerprint hardware, which has faced performance and consistency challenges in some Android implementations.
Apple has not commented publicly on the product category. For now, Touch ID’s return remains a rumor-driven expectation rather than a confirmed specification, but the claim’s repetition across multiple sources suggests it has become a leading hypothesis for how Apple could deliver biometric authentication in a foldable iPhone.
Sources: MacRumors, Cinco Días, AppleInsider
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
