Apple's expected foldable iPhone could redraw the premium phone market

The most anticipated potential announcement at today's Apple event is the company's first foldable iPhone. Multiple reports expect a book-style device with an outer smartphone display and a larger internal screen approaching tablet dimensions. Pricing is widely expected above $2,000, immediately positioning the product at the ultra-premium end of the market. Apple has spent years watching Samsung, Huawei, Motorola and Google refine hinge mechanisms, folding displays and multitasking software.

That late-entry strategy is familiar: Apple often waits until a category reaches sufficient maturity before attempting to make it understandable to mainstream customers. Foldables remain only a small percentage of worldwide smartphone shipments, which makes the commercial experiment particularly interesting. A successful Apple launch could significantly increase consumer awareness and accessory support across the entire segment.

Until today's keynote begins, however, specifications and even the final product name remain expectations rather than confirmed facts.