code-m
macrumors 601
Seems counter-productive to some where a larger screen is less portable or a larger portable screen can be more productive. Pick you poison I guess.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Now Testing Flip-Style Foldable iPhone
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
sw1tcher
macrumors 604
Allow me to introduce you to the mini bag.
Some women love these even though they're only big enough to hold a few small items such as keys, I.D., cash, credit card, and lipstick, but not big enough to fit a smartphone (even an iPhone mini). On the other hand, a flip style iPhone like the one pictured would definitely fit.
A flip phone is the only phone that makes sense besides a regular phone in my opinion. Those square things, that fold up to an iPad size screen don't make any sense to me. I want the phone to reduce in size in my pocket, so a flip phone will do the job and if I need it, I have a regular screen to use. Oh well, I'm just not a heavy phone user, I like using my iMac for most of my task.
This is ridiculous. First of all, this is a super niche use case. This is like a desperate attempt to come up with a justifiable reason for a completely unnecessary flip phone to exist. Secondly, it would be enough for the mini bag to be just a few centimeters bigger and a perfectly normal iPhone would fit in it. And it would still be a mini bag. 😄 No need to launch flip phone for this.
Whe you suggest "dividing resources for a more limited market" you may be missing how huge the market for smartphones is. Billions of individual devices and Apple a $Trillion company means that it makes sense for Apple to consider all kinds of different smartphone variants.
Right. For one handed use, the important number is the combination of width plus 2 times the thickness. The Air has received widespread praise due to its “feel,” and this is due to the reduced thickness. it feels more secure and “holdable” to most. I think the lower quality camera system, though, as a turn off for many.
If the flip has pro-level cameras, it will be a big seller.
Just curious. Overall, what are the "many other" smartphone cameras that the iPhone Pros are "way behind?" I may go buy one.
Note that I said overall, not one specific feature. And I am specifically discussing iPhone Pros, not the lower end models Apple also makes.
Last edited:
Marty80
macrumors 6502a
I am so folded on this idea, i always say the future lies in a smart shoe. This is because as human beings we are always constantly on the go.
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
Vivo 200 ultra
Pura 80 ultra
Vivo 300 pro
Oppo X9 pro
Xiaomi 17 ultra
Oppo X9 ultra and Vivo 300 ultra will beat it too
It really is. Apple sits atop a pile of cash — something like 50 billion free of debt — so they need to put the money somewhere. Even if a smallish percent of current customers are persuaded to stay in the Apple ecosphere, or switch from the competition — it grows and stabilizes their market share.
Keeping a customer or gaining a new one is a much better future ROi than losing a customer just to avoid some additional expense for machining variations of a few components.
I will only consider a Flip iPhone if they keep FaceID. I would actually prefer a Flip over a Fold when using iOS. With Android I prefer a Fold.
code-m
macrumors 601
I don’t think people think before their post. A small percentage today with developing a fold or flip phone is better than none. The OG iPhone was not expecting to dominate the big payers of the mobile phone market or the day such as BlackBerry, Windows CE and Palm Pilot but it kept its eyes on the prize and continue to innovate. Unfortunately the candy bar form has matured in its innovation form and function and do thing else is needed to carry it forward. Will we still have candy bar form phones, probably but it will not be seen as premium it will be considered mid-level and eventually entry level.
Imagine 5-10-15-20 years from now and Apple still only has a candy bar form iPhone while the rest of the market has fold-flip-roll-projecting-wearable type phones. In comparison it will be deemed that Apple is unable to innovate and it’s the same people who keep chiming that Apple does not innovate, the paradox of this statement is deafening.
code-m
macrumors 601
FaceID is it the be all and end all of biometric security. I am sure there are other firms that are on-par if not supersede the technology. Let’s not limit ourselves.
code-m
macrumors 601
I thought there was a company that was making a sliding physical keyboard for the iPhone.
switz
Contributor
Went from folding flip phones to the candy bar flavors. Since my iPhone 4 CDMA, I have acquired the top spec model iPhone most years. Have had a leather belt mounted side case that holds the iPhones for many years. I can add my Fjorden camera control to my iPhone 17 Pro Max and it still fits into the leather belt case.
When traveling outside the USA, my cargo pants have security pockets where the iPhone and passport live. I went for the 17 because all three camera lenses were 48MP and it has 2TB storage.
An amazing concept: Apple makes various size iPhones at various price points. Apple has never been the low price company on any of their products. I have always had to pay top dollar to play in Apple's playground.
If the iPhone product line is too expensive for someone, then that person should buy something they can afford. Apple is NOT a charity.
When traveling outside the USA, my cargo pants have security pockets where the iPhone and passport live. I went for the 17 because all three camera lenses were 48MP and it has 2TB storage.
An amazing concept: Apple makes various size iPhones at various price points. Apple has never been the low price company on any of their products. I have always had to pay top dollar to play in Apple's playground.
If the iPhone product line is too expensive for someone, then that person should buy something they can afford. Apple is NOT a charity.
groove-agent
macrumors 68020
lilkwarrior
macrumors 6502a
That's simply not true with all the clear limitations of slab phones compared to pocket computers that are actually more able to be more versatile with more real estate for far superior typing, reading, editing, creating, and photo taking functionally (far better group photos via foldables via the rear camera for subjects to see exactly how they look.
lilkwarrior
macrumors 6502a
The crease "issue" has been resolved and showcased for 2026 foldables at CES 2026. Samsung and others have such foldable OLED panels.
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
Would agree, obviously Face ID or Touch ID is difference but aside from this main difference it’s a better camera quality on pro phones. Aside from that the iPhone fold will do more than the slab iPhone in everything else
I’m 100% sure Apple won’t let you multitask on the iPhone 18 series and only on the iPhone fold