Apple readies first foldable iPhone launch
Apple expected to unveil folding iPhone as new CEO takes center stage
Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Warm-up
- What phone features matter most to you and why?
- Have you ever seen or used a foldable phone?
- How much would you pay for a top-end phone?
Vocabulary
- unveil
- to show a new product to the public for the first time
- foldable
- able to bend or close so it becomes smaller
- prototype
- an early test version of a product
- rumour
- information people share that is not confirmed
- facial recognition
- technology that uses your face to unlock a device
- flagship
- the most important or best product in a range
- campus
- the grounds and buildings of a company or school
- competitor
- another company that sells similar products and tries to win customers
Reading
Apple is set to unveil its first foldable iPhone at the “Surprise and Shine” event. The launch begins at 10am Pacific Standard Time on Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California. The flagship device folds like a passport, growing from about 5.5in when shut to 7.8in when open. Reports say it will skip Face ID because the phone is too thin for the facial recognition camera, and will rely on Touch ID instead.
The moment is the first big test for Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, who assumed the role on 1 September, replacing Tim Cook. Apple is rumoured to price the phone above $2,000, while a competitor, Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold, retails at $1,899.
Apple tested prototypes of a folding display as early as 2021. It is not clear what the phone will be called; people expect either iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra. Alongside this, Apple is expected to announce routine updates such as iPhone 18 Pro models.
Comprehension
- What time and where will Apple hold the event?
- How does the new iPhone change size when it opens?
- Why is Face ID not expected on the device?
- Who is Apple’s new CEO leading this launch?
- How may the price compare to Google’s foldable phone?
Grammar focus
Embedded questions
Use a reporting verb (asked, wondered) + an embedded question in normal statement order. Put the question word first, then the subject and verb: 'what the phone will be called', not 'what will the phone be called'. (Examples constructed.)
- Reporters asked **who will lead the launch**.
- Readers asked **how much the phone will cost**.
Grammar exercise
Choose the correct option in each sentence.
- Journalists asked (when the event starts / does the event start).
- Reporters asked (how thin the phone is / how thin is the phone).
- Fans wondered (what will the phone be called / what the phone will be called).
- Developers asked (will Apple use Touch ID / whether Apple will use Touch ID).
- Historians asked (when Apple tested prototypes / when did Apple test prototypes).
Discussion
- Would you buy a foldable phone at a premium price? Why?
- Which feature would you use most on a larger screen?
- Is this a risky first test for John Ternus? Why or why not?
- Will foldables ever outsell standard phones? Why or why not?
Vocabulary, reading, and exercises with instant feedback