Analyst and supply-chain rumor roundups suggest Apple’s first foldable iPhone, expected in 2026, could rely on Touch ID integrated into a side button. The device is commonly labeled "iPhone Fold" in coverage, though Apple has not confirmed any foldable iPhone plans.
The Touch ID narrative is usually tied to space constraints. In a foldable chassis, the Face ID component stack is often described as harder to fit without adding bulk, while a side-mounted fingerprint sensor offers biometric access without the depth-sensing hardware.
MacRumors and other reports describe a book-style fold rather than a clamshell, with attention on hinge durability, materials, and crease reduction. Some coverage places a launch window in the second half of 2026.
Apple has alternated between Touch ID and Face ID as industrial design priorities shift, and the company has already brought Touch ID to side buttons on iPad models. A side-mounted sensor would work in both folded and unfolded states and sidesteps the performance trade-offs seen in some under-display fingerprint implementations.
For now, Touch ID’s return remains rumor-driven rather than confirmed, but the claim’s repetition across sources has made it a leading hypothesis for how Apple could handle authentication on a foldable iPhone.
Sources: MacRumors, Cinco Días, AppleInsider
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By the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
