Apple's Long-Rumored Foldable iPhone is Starting to Sound Serious

[lilkwarrior]

I fear that they’re making the same mistake as with the Vision Pro.

I would’ve preferred a clamshell the size of the discontinued mini that only had essential functions to reduce my phone addiction.

How is the Vision Pro a mistake when it’s the first successfully good prosumer headset? It’s years ahead of its segment just like the Pro Display XDR.


Several Android foldable have validated this form factor being of value for high-end mobile users at prices that typically would cause notable failures

 

[lilkwarrior]

I wonder how Apple came to the conclusion people want a fold vs a flip. Isn’t the whole premise behind a collapsible device to make it more compact & not be an iPhone that opens up to an iPad?

The open market of Android phones have long validated with no surprise to at foldables are more in demand than flip phones.

Fold phones move the category forward for high-end phone users even consolidating investment of various tablets saving money and enabling newfound conveniency doing common mobile tasks.

A flip phone doesn’t.

 

[lilkwarrior]

Too big to use like a phone when unfolded. don't like.

What? Things like typing and reading/viewing content is substantially easier and faster unfolded using a foldable phone.

Have you checked out sites, texted, or even use a calendar/spreadsheet app using a high-and foldable phone before?

Android has plenty such as the Galaxy Fold, Oppo 5, and Pixel 9 Fold.

 

[lilkwarrior]

Even Microsoft is making bigger and faster changes in their hardware than Apple these days.

…Name them if you don’t mind.

Apple has several market leaders such as their prosumer tablet, prosumer monitor, prosumer headset, and prosumer ultrabook.

 

[GregoriousMan]

What? Things like typing and reading/viewing content is substantially easier and faster unfolded using a foldable phone.

Have you checked out sites, texted, or even use a calendar/spreadsheet app using a high-and foldable phone before?

Android has plenty such as the Galaxy Fold, Oppo 5, and Pixel 9 Fold.

I have actually, and they don't appeal to me at all. If I want a bigger screen, I'll just bring my laptop.

 

[svish]

With multiple rumors regarding the device, confident that a foldable from Apple will be released in the next two years. Also happy to hear that it will be a device similar to the Samsung Fold and not the Flip style. Expecting it to be priced at $1999.
Will be great if the foldable has three cameras just like the Z Fold but I doubt that it will happen. I will be very disappointed if it lacks FaceID.

 

[carrrrrlos]

I'm more curious if Apple Intelligence will be ready by then.

There’s a good chance GTA6 will be.

 

[mudguts]

You cannot please everyone: This rumored phone option enables a phone to be far more useful, versatile, and more useful on-the-go for power users that overlaps with iPad Mini / iPad use cases to omit such devices.

For those who read, type, or consume a lot on the go, a foldable phone is ergonomically better than a slab phone in a wide variety of ways.

Far easier to type things and less likely to drop when used expanded.

Here's a thought: Use a phone as a phone and a tablet when more typing is typically required. A phablet isn't a phone and it isn't a tablet.

 

[Sammy007]

While it might feel like a foldable iPhone has been two years away for years now, rumors about the device are finally starting to sound serious.

There are now several sources who agree that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch inner display when unfolded, along with a 5.5-inch outer display. Those sources include analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu, along with the Weibo account Digital Chat Station. The fact that these display sizes are now agreed upon and have been leaked indicates that Apple may have finalized at least some of the device's specifications.

The foldable iPhone will open up like a book, according to Kuo, rather than have a clamshell design like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip.

Pu said the foldable iPhone recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) stage at manufacturer Foxconn, suggesting that Apple is moving forward with plans to release the device. Pu and Kuo both believe that the foldable iPhone will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026, which means the device could launch as soon as next year in limited quantities, but a release at some point in 2027 seems more likely.

As funny as it might sound, the foldable iPhone seems to be two years away for real this time.

Barclays analyst Tim Long recently estimated that Apple's first foldable iPhone could start at around $2,299 in the U.S., meaning it would cost nearly twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199 there.

In addition to the 7.8-inch inner display and 5.5-inch outer display, Kuo said the foldable iPhone will feature two rear cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and a high-density battery. He expects the device to be as thin as 4.5mm when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded. He also said the device will have a titanium exterior, but the hinge will use a mix of titanium and stainless steel.

Article Link: Apple's Long-Rumored Foldable iPhone is Starting to Sound Serious

Well, this feels more like a downgrade than an upgrade—with double the price for good measure. I think I'll stick to the Pro Max, thank you very much. At least it doesn't come with moving parts, which, let’s be honest, only add a touch of brittle charm to a phone. A device built to fold? Sounds more like a design challenge than a functional benefit.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

i do enjoy the notion of having a decent sized phone that can unfold to a bigger display for multimedia viewing, or just to view things bigger. price is probably going to push me away

I don’t. That’s why I didn’t got a razr. I don’t want to have an screen outside and one inside. I want to have a phone that I’m able to fold and I finally can use it without a case

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

It will be interesting to read the threads from the niche that buy it and all the problems it brings. It'll also be eye-wateringly overpriced too no doubt. I learned my lesson this time around buying a 16 Pro Max when I really should have got a 15 Pro Max and been better off. I won't be diving into the highend so quickly again.

 

[code-m]

Judging from this thread, no matter what Apple does they'll disappoint half the people interested in a foldable iPhone

By the time Apple releases this, the foldable phone market would have come a long way. I tried the Samsung Z fold and I like the idea to have a dual capable device phone and tablet. I get it’s not for everyone and I dislike large slab screens but this seems compelling to me. Durability will be key for this device.

 

[SBlue1]

This is not a foldable iPhone, it's a foldable iPad. I want my iPhone to fold in half, not to expand into an iPad mini.

 

[arobert3434]

Given that most people seem to want bigger, heavier (more battery-containing) phones, the book design makes sense: keep rectangle dimensions constant but increase the screen size, as opposed to reducing rectangle dimensions and keeping the same screen size. Perhaps the iPhone Air is a trial run for the flattening needed to pull off folding in a centimer-thick device.

 

[suku_patel_22]

If that’s the folding iPhone e, I’m not paying for a 5.5 inch folded screen size, and have poorer cameras and no Face ID.

It’s a folded ipad mini

I’ll rather buy the pro max.

 

[foggygray]

Yeah I just realized it’s the size of the iPhone mini. It’s the return of the iPhone mini folks!

You want a iPhone mini just break it off like a KitKat bar!

 

[iMattPro]

Just, No!

 

[switz]

By the time this foldable device has transtitioned from vaporware to hardware, Apple's C1 modem could also be inside their laptops just like the iPads.

My iPhone 16 Pro Max is heavy and has a good screen for a phone. I do plan ahead a wee bit and know if I am going to be writing a dissertation while at CostCo 🤓.

When I go to the doctor's offices, I take my iPad mini as I will be there in the waiting room for lots of time in crowded seating. When I go to have the car serviced, I can sit at a table and take my 11" M4 iPad with Apple keyboard and use cellular data as the dealership WiFi is slower than cold molasses.

My carry on computer bag also has my 16" M4 Max Mac Book Pro plus the iPads so my office is with me. If one is in First Class seating, the laptop works. Economy may be a squeeze for even the iPad mini.

Apple will probably get the folding iPhone done, but I will not be customer. It will be, by default, both larger and heavier than the iPhone Pro Max of that day. Twice the glass and metal in a single device will be heavier because gravity will be in charge.

I hope Apple gets this to work, but not at the expense of. getting a basic like Siri working. I do not care about the AI stuff as it will be the ultimate privacy vacuum on a device. Siri is bad enough.

The issue will be the price as we saw how the $3,500 sales price rapidly caused sales to fall off for the googles and production was stopped after a short time. No way Apple recovered their R & D costs for that device. Hopefully that does not happen with the fold phone.

If a recession or worse is in the near future, that will truly limit the sales of much of the Apple product line....

 

[Mr_Ed]

Here's a thought: Use a phone as a phone and a tablet when more typing is typically required. A phablet isn't a phone and it isn't a tablet.

Describes how I feel about the compromises posed by such devices. Some are fine with them. I just can’t put up with it.

 

[macjaffa]

By the time this foldable device has transtitioned from vaporware to hardware, Apple's C1 modem could also be inside their laptops just like the iPads.

My iPhone 16 Pro Max is heavy and has a good screen for a phone. I do plan ahead a wee bit and know if I am going to be writing a dissertation while at CostCo 🤓.

When I go to the doctor's offices, I take my iPad mini as I will be there in the waiting room for lots of time in crowded seating. When I go to have the car serviced, I can sit at a table and take my 11" M4 iPad with Apple keyboard and use cellular data as the dealership WiFi is slower than cold molasses.

My carry on computer bag also has my 16" M4 Max Mac Book Pro plus the iPads so my office is with me. If one is in First Class seating, the laptop works. Economy may be a squeeze for even the iPad mini.

Apple will probably get the folding iPhone done, but I will not be customer. It will be, by default, both larger and heavier than the iPhone Pro Max of that day. Twice the glass and metal in a single device will be heavier because gravity will be in charge.

I hope Apple gets this to work, but not at the expense of. getting a basic like Siri working. I do not care about the AI stuff as it will be the ultimate privacy vacuum on a device. Siri is bad enough.

The issue will be the price as we saw how the $3,500 sales price rapidly caused sales to fall off for the googles and production was stopped after a short time. No way Apple recovered their R & D costs for that device. Hopefully that does not happen with the fold phone.

If a recession or worse is in the near future, that will truly limit the sales of much of the Apple product line....

do you ever think that maybe you could go somewhere and not need to be on an idevice for all of 30 mins ?

 

[switz]

Yes, but at my age of 80 in a few weeks, doctor office visits can take hours because of the very full lobby of patients. Cars and my truck service is a minimum of two hours wait time. My wife and I go to her hair dresser who also gives me haircut (yes, still have some) and that is always over an hour. My part is ten minutes.

To keep the cobwebs at bay, I read a lot of tech related materials relating to electronics and the Airstream maintenance forums (we own two). I keep aware of what is happening in the Cummins diesel world as my truck has one as a power plant. And read up on County and State EPA regulations regarding septic tank systems as our RV park haas eleven and the rules do change and our water system also has equipment we have to monitor the regs for any changes.

So being stuck someplace for a period of time is a good time to have a device where one can at least read. I do not gain anything chatting with other seniors about their ailments.

 

[jhwalker]

I really don't do anything on the go that needs a larger screen; no video, rarely use the web, no social media or games. I would like it to be smaller in the pocket, though.

... and I'm the exact opposite. I use my iPhone almost exclusively for video, apps, Internet, social media, etc. If my phone ever actually rings for an incoming call, I typically stare at it in horror LOL

 

[Ralfi]

Here's a thought: Use a phone as a phone and a tablet when more typing is typically required. A phablet isn't a phone and it isn't a tablet.

I was carrying around two phones at work for a time there, & that was an inconvenience.

So carrying a phone & tablet around would be worse.

If there was a device which combined the two that fit in my pocket, I’d find that handy.

(Getting kind of tired of people who despise the idea of a foldable phone, telling others to not be interested in it, let alone, don’t buy it….let people get excited about tech, thanks)….

 

[lilkwarrior]

Here's a thought: Use a phone as a phone and a tablet when more typing is typically required. A phablet isn't a phone and it isn't a tablet.

…I have a iPhone Pro 16 Max and a M4 iPad Pro.

A Galaxy Fold, Pixel 9 Fold, and other Android foldables make them archaic to lug both when I can use such foldables instead.

The target audience of flagship phones benefit from the versatility and increased real estate of foldables with superior ergonomics ensured—especially prosumers.

Apple is accordingly unsurprisingly entering this market consistently by rumors.

It’s also a latent means of flagship phone tiers maintaining staying power with the continually improved tech surrounding spatial computing hardware, laptops, and laptops with cellular capabilities.

 

[Sammy007]

…I have a iPhone Pro 16 Max and a M4 iPad Pro.

A Galaxy Fold, Pixel 9 Fold, and other Android foldables make them archaic to lug both when I can use such foldables instead.

The target audience of flagship phones benefit from the versatility and increased real estate of foldables with superior ergonomics ensured—especially prosumers.

Apple is accordingly unsurprisingly entering this market consistently by rumors.

It’s also a latent means of flagship phone tiers maintaining staying power with the continually improved tech surrounding spatial computing hardware, laptops, and laptops with cellular capabilities.

Not to dampen your enthusiasm, Sir, nor to correct or undermine your perspective. As you mentioned, you have a lot of devices in your hands. Yes, it may seem that owning both an iPad and an iPhone is becoming archaic—but is it really? Is it worth it for Apple to enter that market? In my opinion, doing so could threaten the survival of their flagship iPhones and the iPad family. Apple has always been focused on diversifying its products, ensuring each has a distinct purpose while remaining seamlessly interconnected. A foldable MacBook, for example, could be a promising venture—innovative in design, functionality, and aesthetics. However, introducing a foldable phone that bridges the gap between an iPad and an iPhone could lead to a chaotic overlap that disrupts their current ecosystem.