Apple iPhone Fold to come with titanium/aluminum frame in 2026
The Apple iPhone Fold will have a frame made of a blend of titanium and aluminum, said analyst Jeff Pu in a new note to investors. Pu suggested that Apple will expand its use of titanium again. The material is expected to be used in both the 2026 iPhone Fold and the iPhone Air models.
This isn’t the first time a mix of different metals has been suggested for the Apple iPhone Fold. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this year that Apple would use multiple materials.
While Pu says Apple will use titanium and aluminum, Kuo assumes titanium and stainless steel. He suggested the hinge of the foldable iPhone will be made of stainless steel and titanium, while the frame of the device will be made of titanium. Kuo also believes that some hinge components will be made of Liquid Metal, which offers greater durability.
Apple iPhone Fold second titanium model
Rumors suggest that the Apple iPhone Fold will be only 4.5 mm thick when unfolded, making it even thinner than the iPhone Air. To prevent bending, it would need the stability of a titanium frame. Apple gave the iPhone Air a titanium frame, and this proved to be a good decision, as numerous bending tests showed that the titanium used by Apple is bend-resistant.
Kuo did not mention aluminum as a possible material for the Apple iPhone Fold. Pu’s wording doesn’t make it entirely clear how Apple will use the two materials, but it suggests either that Apple plans to use a titanium and aluminum alloy for the device’s frame, or that Apple will use titanium in some areas and aluminum in others.
“Additionally, the metal frame will benefit from the increasing use of titanium, which will likely be the case with the iPhone 18 Fold (titanium + aluminum) and the iPhone 18 Air.”
Small amounts of aluminum are often used in titanium alloys, and the two metals can also be combined in higher proportions. Since titanium is heavier than aluminum, Apple may also be planning to use titanium for the structural parts of the frame and aluminum elsewhere to save weight.
The first foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled as part of the iPhone 18 series in September 2026. According to rumors, the display will be approximately 5.5 inches when closed and expand to approximately 7.8 inches when opened.
