Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Has No Visible Display Crease – Report

[iGüey]

Mini Pro, please. Fits in hand and pocket (ya know, like we used to have from the ip5–>13 mini). Gracias.

Unlikely to happen, that ship just sailed away.

In the other hand, you may like to try with the iFlip that Apple surely will release to fill the mini’s market.

 

[iGüey]

Sci fi always tends to inspire tech.

In 1997 there was a sci fi show called Earth:Final Conflict. In that show the communicator devices were just that - roll up screens that pulled out from a main body. Just google them - they are really interesting in that they were made up 10 years before iPhones were a thing but a very interesting concept.

I would be happy to have a thicker 'cylinder' if the screen rolled out.

But hey, for now that just fantasy although rollup screens are very much a thing.

The idea sounds good at least theoretically, but with all due respect, I think it has the potential to bring much more problems to the user rolling and unrolling the screen.

I remember how erratic were the audio Compact Cassette with all the wind slack tape problems.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I'd be curious to know how many of us actually want a folding iPhone.

It's not something I want, and I'm not sure what purpose it serves.

Me; I might want one. Look at the Oppo foldable. It is well done but has a few software issues. Imagine Apple proceeding along the hardware evolution process to be even better or at least as good hardware as the N5, and with solid Apple software. It would be like having an iPhone Pro Max and an iPad Mini in one device IF Apple brings the competence of Apple Pencil to the foldable.

No pencil capability, then fuggedaboutit.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Aspect ratio is the biggest factor. If they continue the square, it’s a deal breaker for me. I see foldables out in the real world today and it silly seeing them unfold only to watch a movie or video with gigantic black bars on the top and bottom. I don’t see a ton of real estate being used in any efficient manner with today’s current aspect ratios. Rectangular makes way more sense.

There are lots of different usages for a mini phablet, with different usages performing better on different aspect ratios. Watching videos is just one usage of many. Choosing screen sizes, where the fold is, how different apps work (e.g. watching videos versus editing images versus typing text) will be challenging for the designing engineers. Probably no users will be fully satisfied.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I disagree. There are major trade-offs in terms of convenience and practically that goes beyond any personal preferences. You need to unfold the phone (an additional action) to do basically anything, while currently, with standard smartphone you don't. You also need two hands to operate the device, while currently, you can do basic tasks (i.a. check stock price, view notifications, answer whatsapp messages, etc.) with just one hand. I don't need any user to report that to know it is true. Samsung and others are already releasing their 3-4th generation of foldable devices, and I still do not observe major shift to this type of devices, which in some way might be indicative about the customers overall interest. If foldable phones were so great, these devices will be flying off the shelves, and yet, after few years of availability, their market share is still slim. Between a foldable iPhone, and the rumored super-thin iPhone Air, my gut feeling is that the Air would be a bigger hit and definitely my personal pick. Obviously, this does not mean that there aren't many people that are happy to live with the trade-offs of a foldable device, for the sake of the additional screen real estate.

It is OK if "market share is still slim" when the overall market is billions of devices.

 

[heretiq]

Sci fi always tends to inspire tech.

In 1997 there was a sci fi show called Earth:Final Conflict. In that show the communicator devices were just that - roll up screens that pulled out from a main body. Just google them - they are really interesting in that they were made up 10 years before iPhones were a thing but a very interesting concept.

I would be happy to have a thicker 'cylinder' if the screen rolled out.

But hey, for now that just fantasy although rollup screens are very much a thing.

Yep. I agree and remember that show. It’s one of my favorites!

 

[OUsooner08]

Curious if Apple can solve the main issues with foldables: reliability, the crease and the squishy feeling inner screen... I've looked at the Google, Samsung, Oppo and Hyundai offerings and even though they're really good, and are inching closer to something I'd want to invest in, they're not yet good enough (for me, for those prices). Also: battery life has to be on par with the Pro Max models.

We'll see!

The One Plus open has been a phenomenal foldable.

 

[OUsooner08]

I'd be curious to know how many of us actually want a folding iPhone.

It's not something I want, and I'm not sure what purpose it serves.

I’d take a foldable iPhone that opens to roughly an 8” tablet in a heartbeat. Saves you from carrying a phone and tablet.

I had a One Plus Open as my work provided phone and its phenomenal.

 

[Sippincider]

Apple's apparent solution could hand the company a major competitive advantage

But not at "regardless of price".

Depending on other factors, a modest premium might be worth it. But if it's pure novelty and a $2000+ phone? Even the Gotta have the latest! crowd will think twice.