Apple Set For Earnings Surge As Foldable IPhone Looms

Apple is once again capturing the attention of both Wall Street and tech enthusiasts, as a wave of bullish analyst sentiment and a slew of tantalizing leaks set the stage for a pivotal year ahead. With its earnings report due on January 29, 2026, and rumors swirling about the launch of its first foldable iPhone, the company stands at a crossroads that could reshape its product strategy and financial outlook for years to come.

According to MacDailyNews, analysts have grown increasingly optimistic about Apple’s stock performance, citing robust iPhone sales that have consistently outpaced expectations in recent months. Evercore ISI, a prominent investment firm, recently added Apple to its Tactical Outperform list, highlighting the company’s “strong iPhone demand” as a key driver for an anticipated “strong earnings print.” The firm has set an ambitious $330 price target for Apple’s shares, which it continues to list as its top pick for 2026.

What’s fueling this optimism? Evercore expects iPhone revenue to surge by 17% year-over-year, well above the consensus estimate of 11%. The holiday quarter, traditionally a crucial period for Apple, saw sales skewed toward higher-end iPhone models, suggesting that average selling prices may be even higher than anticipated. Analysts at Citi echo this sentiment, predicting an “earnings beat” for the December quarter, propelled by the sale of 82 million iPhone units—again, surpassing consensus expectations.

However, not all is entirely rosy. MacDailyNews also notes that while one analyst firm has maintained its Buy rating on Apple’s stock, it has trimmed its price target from $330 to $315. The culprit? Rising memory prices, which could squeeze Apple’s profit margins in the coming quarters. It’s a reminder that even tech titans aren’t immune to the ebb and flow of global supply chains.

As investors eagerly await Apple’s earnings announcement at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET on January 29, 2026, another storyline is quietly building momentum: the rumored arrival of Apple’s first foldable iPhone, tentatively dubbed the “iPhone Fold.” According to respected supply-chain analyst Jeff Pu, as reported by 9to5Mac and corroborated by several industry insiders, Apple is preparing to unveil this groundbreaking device in September 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

If the reports are accurate, the iPhone Fold would mark Apple’s most dramatic iPhone redesign in nearly a decade. The device is expected to feature a book-style foldable design, with a main 7.8-inch foldable OLED display and a secondary 5.3-inch OLED cover screen for one-handed use. Apple is said to be focusing on minimizing the crease where the device folds, as well as ensuring hinge durability and long-term reliability—two pain points that have plagued early foldable phones from competitors.

But it’s not just the form factor that’s turning heads. The iPhone Fold, like the iPhone 18 Pro series, is rumored to run on Apple’s forthcoming A20 Pro chip. Manufactured using TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm process and featuring Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging, the A20 Pro chip promises significant advances in performance, efficiency, and space savings. WMCM technology allows Apple to integrate RAM directly onto the logic wafer, reducing latency, increasing memory bandwidth, and improving power efficiency—especially critical for devices expected to handle heavy on-device AI processing.

In fact, Jeff Pu’s investor briefing highlights that all A20 Pro-equipped devices, including the iPhone Fold, will come with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. This upgrade is widely seen as a response to the growing demands of AI-powered features and advanced multitasking, particularly on larger, foldable displays. As Apple continues to invest in its Apple Intelligence initiative, the need for devices capable of sustained, high-efficiency AI workloads has never been greater.

One of the more intriguing rumors involves biometric authentication. Instead of the now-familiar Face ID, the iPhone Fold may utilize Touch ID integrated into the side power button. This design choice, already seen on recent iPads, is practical: it offers consistent authentication whether the device is folded or unfolded, and it saves precious internal space in what is expected to be one of the thinnest foldable phones on the market. According to supply-chain analysis, Apple is targeting a folded thickness of about 9.0 to 9.5 mm and an unfolded thickness of just 4.5 mm—dimensions that would set a new benchmark for premium engineering in the foldable category.

Perhaps just as significant as the hardware is Apple’s reported shift in product release strategy. For the first time, the company is expected to stagger its iPhone launches. The high-margin, flagship devices—the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold—are set to debut in the fall of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 models will reportedly be delayed until spring 2027. This move allows Apple to focus its fall launch on its most advanced and profitable products, reduce launch-day complexity, and position the foldable as a true flagship rather than an experimental side project.

For investors, this staggered release strategy is a meaningful shift. It signals Apple’s intent to double down on its premium product segment, even as it experiments with new device categories. By bundling the iPhone Fold launch with the Pro models during its annual fall keynote, Apple can maximize global attention and underscore its commitment to innovation at the very top end of the market.

Of course, with any major product launch, there are risks as well as rewards. The foldable smartphone market is still in its infancy, and early entrants have struggled with durability and user experience. Apple’s reputation for polish and reliability means expectations are sky-high. The company’s engineering focus on hinge durability, crease minimization, and ultra-thin design will be closely scrutinized once the device is finally unveiled.

Meanwhile, the broader context can’t be ignored. As memory prices rise and global supply chains remain unpredictable, Apple faces challenges in maintaining its enviable profit margins. The company’s decision to invest in next-generation silicon and advanced packaging technologies reflects both its ambition and its recognition of the shifting competitive landscape.

In the coming months, all eyes will be on Apple’s earnings report and the steady drip of leaks and rumors about the iPhone Fold. If the company can deliver on both fronts—impressing investors with its financial results and wowing consumers with a bold new device—it may well cement its leadership in both the smartphone market and the broader world of consumer technology.

For now, the anticipation is palpable. Apple’s next chapter is about to unfold, and the world is watching closely to see if it can once again redefine what’s possible in the palm of your hand.