This might be insane but - I might be in on this, if only for TouchID. I’m so over the FaceID era on phones 🙄
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2026 Foldable iPhone: All the Leaks So Far
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That is if they still are somehow are doing that
Latest rumors are suggesting that they are going to throw in the towel of what they had planned for Apple Intelligence and instead just go whole hog on integrating others' models
Okay, please answer this question: what is that space where you can’t fit a slim “traditional” smartphone, but you can fit a “half” of a smartphone that’s more than twice as thick?
Edit. To clarify I’m asking about flip specifically.
That makes sense. However...
One of the quality demands Steve Jobs made of the original 2007 iPhone was that it needed a glass screen, because he was disappointed at how easily the plastic screen of the prototype was scratched. It was acceptable that a $199 iPod Nano had a plastic screen that could easily scratch, but it was unacceptable that a $499 iPhone might receive a screen scratch within minutes of the customer opening its box.
The irony of foldable smartphones is that they're $2,000, and yet they have the most damageable screens out of all the smartphones. Imagine paying $55/month added to your bill, meaning in addition to your costly monthly cellphone bill (are we talking $150/month or more, now?) for 36 months, and yet by the time your 36 installments of ~$150 have been paid, your foldable smartphone's plastic inner screen is so damaged from dust, debris, and scratches that you'll want a new foldable as soon as you pay off your current one.
Now you're stuck in an "upgrade/replace" loop worth $2,000 every 3 years! Expensive computers should last longer than 3 years, for otherwise you're contributing to e-waste in addition to burning a hole in your pocket.
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Aside from people who want/need a very large display in their pocket, an iPhone Fold might also appeal to some of the people who love the iPhone 12/13 minis - going by the sizes given for the screen, folded in half (so, very rough estimates), compared to an iPhone 13 mini, an iPhone fold when folded could be roughly 5/8" wider (16.67mm), but roughly 11/16" less tall (17.05mm). If their controlling factor is "longest dimension", it would be a win there.
the display size and ratio is horrible, i wont get this at all. if i wanted a gimmick, i'd get a clamshell.
For smaller people, especially females, large slab phones stick out of small front pockets or don’t fit at all. Same is true of small fanny packs, purses/clutches, etc.
Fitting an ~8” tablet in your front pocket is just one specific instance of the benefit of folding—there are many others because pockets come in all shapes and sizes as do devices (there is no difference between a phone and a tablet except an arbitrary size boundary).
But it’s not just about fitting where it couldn’t fit before, it’s also simply about fitting better in situations where surface area is more precious than depth (thickness). This can be in a pocket, or it can be on a surface with limited space (small desk, tray table, arm rest, etc).
“Fold” and “flip” are just labels, but they’re fundamentally the same thing—taking up less surface area space—simply to different varying degrees.
Really? I like the size and ratio, it’s very natural feeling, like the days of old. Remember, the original iPhone had a similar 3:2 ratio and it was only in search of ever bigger and bigger screens (while still being holdable and pocketable) that phone screens got so abnormally long and skinny over the years. And iPads are even more square at almost 4:3. Between 3:2 and 4:3 is a comfortable ratio for the widest range of uses. This just wasn’t a feasible aspect ratio for phones (because we wanted them large but pocketable) until folding tech came along.
I hadn't seen this mock up before. While I was skeptical of the reported 5.5" outer display size, I can definitely behind this sort of passport book style with a wider design that result in a more usable unfolded layout, especially for side by side multitasking or video consumption.
Both are the internet in your pocket, but an iPad in your pocket is more impressive than an iPhone in your pocket.
I won’t believe it until I see it actually announced
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device.
Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far.
Overall Design
Book-Style
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's foldable iPhone is similar in style to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, which uses a book-style folding mechanism, rather than the clamshell design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the foldable iPhone to measure between 9 and 9.5 mm when folded, and around 4.5 to 4.8 mm when unfolded. More recently, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital has said that the foldable iPhone will have a thickness of at least 4.8mm.
Display Sizes
Dual Screens
When folded, users will interact with a 5.5-inch outer display that is similar to a typical iPhone screen, while unfolding it will reveal a larger 7.8-inch iPad-style screen. The inner display is said to be virtually crease-free, thanks to Apple's use of a metal plate that can disperse and control the stress generated by bending the display. These dimensions have been corroborated by two reputable sources. According to one rumor, the inner folding display will have a 4:3 aspect ratio and use a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution, while the outer display will use a 2,088 x 1,422 resolution.
Chassis and Hinge
Durable Materials
The foldable iPhone reportedly has a titanium chassis, with the hinge constructed from a combination of titanium and stainless steel, according to Kuo. Apple is said to be using liquid metal in the hinges to improve durability and help eliminate screen creasing. Liquid metal, manufactured using a die-casting process, has been chosen by Apple to address these two common issues with foldable devices, according to the analyst.
Cameras
Front and Rear
The foldable iPhone is expected to include a dual-lens rear camera, with a front-facing camera for both folded and unfolded states, according to Kuo. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently corroborated reports that the device will have four cameras consisting of one front camera, one inner camera, and two rear cameras. Prolific Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the rear dual lenses will be 48 megapixels each. Other sources have claimed that the inner display features an under-screen camera (USC), while the outer display – in the device's folded state – will have a punch-hole camera.
Authentication
Touch ID
Kuo believes the phone will forgo Face ID authentication, and instead use a Touch ID side button as a means to save precious internal space, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently corroborated the rumor. Apple has previously integrated Touch ID into the side button of the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini.
Cellular Connectivity
C1 Modem
The foldable iPhone will use Apple's second-generation C2 modem for cellular connectivity, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple debuted its custom-designed C1 modem in the iPhone 16e earlier this year, as part of a multi-year plan to transition away from Qualcomm modems. Gurman says the foldable device will not have a physical SIM slot.
Battery Life
High-Density Cells
Apple is putting a heavy focus on improving power efficiency by slimming down key components like the display driver to make room for more battery cells, according to a Korean blog that has leaked accurate details about... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: 2026 Foldable iPhone: All the Leaks So Far
2713:1920 isn't 4:3, that would require 2560:1920. Instead it's 1.413:1, halfway between 4:3 and 3:2. For those familiar with the A series paper sizes, it's almost exactly that aspect ratio (√2:1).
Why is the outer only 5.5 inches? Google Pixels fold and Samsungs folding phones are bigger with the outer display
I literally just said this actually as soon as I read your comment, and I totally agree, even the pixel has a bigger display on the outside of the phone. Apple first version will look dated already
Given other companies’ foldables, will Apple release an overpriced hybrid of a flawed smartphone and a clunky tablet? I think I'll pass on that.