Apple's first foldable iPhone will drop the physical SIM card entirely while including a Camera Control button despite being at least 1.1mm thinner than the iPhone Air when unfolded, according to leaker Instant Digital. The device will be eSIM-only across all regions, matching Apple's strategy with its thinnest iPhone. Apple's U.S. imaging team recently visited Shenzhen, China to test cameras from rivals like Huawei, particularly focusing on telephoto zoom capabilities.

The company prioritized the Camera Control button for ergonomic reasons—it believes making adjustments and taking photos on large foldable devices can be cumbersome. The button enables one-handed operation even when the screen is fully unfolded, allowing users to maintain a steady grip while adjusting settings. Apple made deliberate engineering compromises to sacrifice precious internal component stacking space for this feature.

The foldable won't include a telephoto camera, offering only wide and ultra-wide lenses like the iPhone 17, while most rival foldables such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 feature three rear cameras. First-year production is estimated at a conservative 10 million units, with pricing between $2,060–$2,750. The device is expected to launch in fall 2026 with a 7.8-inch inner display, 5.5-inch outer display, Touch ID, the A20 chip, and C2 modem.