Apple’s long awaited foldable iPhone is finally starting to look real on the rumor front, and one detail keeps coming up again and again: it might skip the SIM tray entirely. Leaks from Chinese and US sources suggest Apple is planning an iPhone Fold eSIM only design for its 2026 launch, following the path set by the ultra thin iPhone Air and newer eSIM only iPhone models.
If that holds true, the 2026 iPhone Fold would be Apple’s first foldable and another major step away from physical SIM cards. The device is rumored to ship in late 2026 with a 5.5 inch cover screen on the outside and a 7.8 inch foldable display inside. When opened, it should feel closer to an iPad mini than a regular iPhone, while still aiming for a slim titanium design that echoes the iPhone Air.
Dropping the SIM tray on a foldable is mostly about space. Inside the chassis, Apple needs to fit a custom hinge, two displays, a larger battery, cameras, speakers and structural parts that keep the phone rigid after thousands of folds. A physical SIM slot takes up room in the frame and needs extra hardware for the reader and tray. With an iPhone Fold eSIM only setup, Apple can reclaim that space for battery capacity, hinge durability and better cooling without making the device thicker.
The rest of the rumored hardware matches that premium direction. Reports point to an A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process, a battery in roughly the 5,000 mAh class, and a crease free inner display that reduces the visible fold line. Some leaks also mention a 48 MP main camera on the back and a 24 MP under display camera on the inside, so the big screen stays uninterrupted when you are watching videos or gaming.
Going eSIM only will not be friction free everywhere, especially in China. Local users are used to physical dual SIM phones and quick SIM swaps when they change or resell devices. Apple already had to work closely with major carriers to get the eSIM only iPhone Air off the ground there, and activation often still requires a carrier visit. If Apple brings an iPhone Fold eSIM only model to that market, smoother at home activation and broader carrier support will be essential.
For most other regions, though, Apple is arriving at a time when eSIM is already becoming normal. Recent iPhone and Android flagships support digital SIMs, US buyers have lived with eSIM only iPhones for a while, and many frequent travellers now prefer managing multiple plans digitally instead of carrying plastic SIM cards. For a device that is expected to sit well above 2,000 dollars, that kind of convenience will matter alongside headline features like the big inner display and crease free design.
(via MacRumors)
