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's 2026 Foldable iPhone Has No Visible Display Crease – Report
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My mini is still very good, so no immediate buy here.
But hope it evolve well, so it can be a replacement for the mini.
But hope it evolve well, so it can be a replacement for the mini.
Apple made the market want the smartphone almost two decades ago. This time around they’re late to the party, but they know they have to try something “new” in a mature, relatively stagnant sector. Chinese companies have become very aggressive and innovative with their products.
If we assume (as is likely) the phone folds in half, and that the outer display covers an entire side, then we can easily calculate the folded and unfolded screen dimensions, and thus the aspect ratios, since that gives us two equations and two unknowns.
Let:
a = folded screen width; 2 a = unfolded screen width; b = height
Then:
a^2 + b^2 = 5.49"^2
(2a)^2 + b^2 = 7.74"^2
Giving:
a = 3.15"; 2a = 6.30"; b = 4.50"
This means the crease will run along the short length rather than the long length. I.e., it will unfold like a Z Flip instead of a Z Fold. This gives an unfolded aspect ratio of 6.30/4.50 = 1.4:1, and a folded aspect ratio that's nearly the same: 4.50/3.15 = 1.43:1.
I suspect this was deliberate (assuming, of course the leaker's info. and my assumptions are correct), and will indeed be unique if all other foldable phones have significantly different aspect ratios when folded vs. unfolded (which I suspect is the case, though I've not checked comprehensively).
A-series paper does the same thing: All sizes are designed so that, if you cut it in half, it retains its sqrt(2):1 aspect ratio. That may be where Apple got the idea (again, if this leak is legit).
Using the bezel width of the iPhone 16 (2.275 mm =0.09"), we can estimate its folded size by adding 0.18" to each screen dimension, giving:
4.7" x 3.3"
That should be nicely pocketable, since it's close to the size of a typical man's bifold wallet (4.5" x 3.5"). Though I'd personally prefer if it were closer to the Z Flip in size. And those with small hands might find the folded size too wide to comfortably hold during calls.
To give some context, I've ordered these by area:
Samsung Z Flip 6: 3.35" x 2.83" = 9.5 in^2 (folded); 6.60 oz
Phone 13 Mini: 5.18" x 2.53" = 13.1 in^2; 4.97 oz
Rumored foldable iPhone: 4.7" x 3.3" = 15.5 in^2 (folded); est ≈ 8 oz
Samsung Z Fold 6: 6.04" x 2.68" = 16.2 in^2 (folded); 8.43 oz
iPhone 16e: 5.87" x 2.82" = 16.3 in^2; 5.88 oz
iPhone 16 Pro: 5.89" x 2.81" = 16.6 in^2; 7.03 oz
Oppo Find N5: 6.33" x 2.92" = 18.5 in^2 (folded); 8.08 oz
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.42" x 3.06" = 19.6 in^2; 7.99 oz
Alas, even if it is as pocketable as the Mini, it will still likely weigh ≈60% more.
Last edited:
Athreed! I’M not letting go to my mini 13 unless it’s flip. And if not than Moto here I come.
Good to hear about Apple's plan. Waiting to see the first foldable from Apple. Have a feeling that Apple will price it at $1999. Even though Apple is very late to the foldable game, if Apple is able to get rid of the crease, it will be a major advantage.
Agree. Foldable phones are a solution to a non-existent problem. They basically are worst of both worlds : too small to be a proper tablet, too big and awkward to be a proper phone. Add to the mix the crease, price and durability issues .
I wrote “starting at $2999” as a joke, but it was very likely.
The last Galaxy Fold is their 5th generation, and I still saw my colleague’s unit falling to pieces after one year, with Samsung service blaming the customer for the problem. Moving parts are moving parts…
A Z Flip 4 is slightly wider than an iPhone 16 e MORE than twice thicker when folded: it doesn’t disappear at all…
There were many instances when iPhone had a slightly better display than same year Samsung galaxy model, so it wouldn’t be so strange at all.
Samsung Display is working based on specifications requested by the customer.
I really think it will be way higher than that…
The crease is there since day one. He just picked a picture where it is less visible.
… and it would have been false in the same way. The crease is less prominent than on Samsung Fold, but it is still there.
When I need something bigger than my 6.9” iPhone, i need at least 11” … something a foldable phone cannot reach.
Maybe. That’s why I don’t see the point: iPad Mini is completely unsatisfactory to my needs.
Did you ever tried a Galaxy Fold ? How could it be a replacement for a Mini when 2 dimensions out of 3 are actually bigger than an iPhone 16 Pro ?
As I said above, I’m expecting this to be way higher than that price…
Well you could have said that before I bought the entire line up of all their devices….😒
Haha
We're talking about the company with the $3500 VR headset.
It's going to be very expensive, that's for certain.
I don't, and haven't been, worried about mashing my fingernails into displays. I just used that as an example of how easy it is to damage the displays because of the soft materials.
It simply *is* true, don't kid yourself. Go look at a demonstrator model in a phone shop and you'll see for yourself.
To make the display surface bendable in the first place, it has to be flexible and malleable, therefore soft and easily susceptible to damage.
How many foldables have you even used? My guess is none!!
I’ve had a dozen foldables so I sure as hell don’t need to go to a phone shop to view what you can do to them. Anybody with normal finger nails isn’t scratching the display and the only way you can damage it is if you are badly trying to destroy the display.
So no you can’t damage it at all with a fingernail
I think it'll be around that price even though it risks becoming largely irrelevant to most iPhone users as a result. Apple do like to go in at the higher price points with some products though and wonder why its not as appealing as they'd predicted.
You don't need to unflip a flip phone to browse in internet, write messages, use social media, youtube, weather, clock, calculator etc. etc.
Almost everything can be done on a small 4" screen just like we used to do it on iPhone 5s, before the world became crazy and all phones became huge.
For gaming and movies you can unflip.
Last edited:
I'm not letting go of my mini as long it's still supported, even though I might buy a newer phone. The trade-in is probably very low to nothing So kepping it as a mediaplayer after that, as I've done and do with iPad mini's.
I assume flips are smaller then folds. Then I agree fully.
I have no interest of the larger phones even if they fold - ah well, I don't speculate a lot around it now.
Mini is great still, and Tim Cook hopefully has an earlier experition-date at Apple, then my mini have for me. See what will comes from Apple, when it comes.
I've never owned one, but I've absolutely used a few different models. They all have the same issues with soft display materials.
If you’re never owned one then you really have no valid argument here. As I said I’ve had plenty and had zero problems. You’re going off here say and perception from when they were first launched.
The experience is still better on a bigger screen. Doing it on a phone screen size is what we are used to. Just like using an iPad is a better experience for basically any every task than a phone but a phone is more convenient
Oh I think the technology sounds very cool! I’m not at all against it. I think having more choices is good for everyone. I was just trying to say that for me, I’d rather not have to unfold and fold when I use my iPhone.
As much as I want a foldable iPhone. I'll probably skip the first gen to avoid the problems all first gen apple products have.