According to previous reports, Apple's first foldable iPhone may be released in 2026, and its design may be closely related to the ultra-thin iPhone Air released this year.
Recently, renowned technology journalist Mark Gurman revealed in the latest issue of his "PowerOn" newsletter that the foldable phone can be imagined as "two titanium iPhone Airs side by side." This suggests that Apple may directly extend the engineering principles of the iPhone Air to its foldable product line.
When the iPhone Air was released this year, it attracted widespread attention for its slim design and was seen as another breakthrough in Apple's industrial design. However, its heat dissipation performance also sparked controversy. Multiple media reviews pointed out that the model tends to run hot during daily use. Because titanium alloy has higher thermal conductivity than traditional aluminum, the iPhone 16 Pro has already shown poorer heat dissipation than its predecessor, leading to concerns that Apple may have sacrificed thermal management in its pursuit of thinness. If the new foldable phone continues with a similar design, its internal space will be even more compact, potentially exacerbating heat dissipation challenges.
However, industry precedent has proven that both thinness and good heat dissipation can coexist. For example, models like the OPPO Find N5 and Honor Magic V5 maintain a slim body while achieving stable temperature control through optimized heat dissipation structures. Analysts believe that Apple may be able to utilize the larger surface area of the unfolded foldable screen to deploy a more efficient heat dissipation system, thereby improving the overheating issues exposed by the iPhone Air.
