Have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy

[segfaultdotorg]

I've been advocating for this since the spring. Yes please.

iBook Pro Ultra mini, even.

 

[tothemoonsands]

App compatibility might be a bit sparse to start with...Could look rough for outdated apps.

 

[BrHi11]

I still don’t understand why. Surely if you work in a job that requires work to be done in a tablet sized device, you already have other bits to carry with you, a briefcase for example. I also feel that this device will be a compromise compared to either dedicated device. For examples this device won’t have a hardware keyboard & trackpad, massively limiting its usability compared to an iPad. So it’s going to need to be handheld to type on. That means the keyboard will likely take up at least a third of the screen. Other than a slightly larger screen I cannot see what advantage this device has over an iPhone. It will likely lack features of the cheaper iPhone pro, a key element often cited for why the iPhone air has flopped.

For me personally I need a bigger screen than a phone for presenting, it makes it where a Mac plus this device is perfect.

 

[mackinmike]

IFold. Better late than never

 

[CarlJ]

so, in other words - we still do not really know how this foldable will look like

Yes, but... there's a lot to be said for having an idea roughly how it'll fit in your hand and your pocket. I've had a numver of times in the past when I cut out cardboard rectangles matching the two major dimensions of some (then) unreleased iPhone, to see if it was a size I could deal with. In a few cases I drew and cut out fold-up paper models of items, to get a feel for them in 3D. Being able to 3D print a thing like this is just the next step.

 

[CarlJ]

I’m really not sold on the idea of a folding phone. I still question their longevity, which is important to me as my phones are passed down to my wife & kids, so are often in use for years.

I'm probably not going to trust a folding screen until Apple is on like their 3rd shipping iteration. It's just too much to go wrong mechanically, and I wouldn't want a phone that was likely to be kinda falling apart after 4-5 years.

 

[Zubba]

I would be shocked if it came out with these dimensions.

 

[akbarali.ch]

This is exactly what i wanted from a phone, a bit wider phone and usable on the go tablet

 

[svish]

Good to know. Don't have access to a 3D printer and even if so not going to do so. But waiting eagerly for all the rumors in the coming months.

 

[dampfnudel]

Odd size….

Compared to the easily held iPhones we’re used to, yes. For a hybrid iPhone/iPad mini, that’s what they came up with in the lab.

 

[bunce66]

That thing is awkward and ugly af

it's just some random guy's idea of what it will be like.

 

[Agent007]

Title is missing a comma.

 

[darkslide29]

That title is a comma away from getting a 24 hour ban on Macrumors.
😂

Too true. I’ve been given a ban for less!

 

[darkslide29]

I don’t know much about 3d printing, and am happy to pay to have someone print and ship. Is there an easy way anyone can point me to? Message me if I can buy from your shop please.

 

[tomtad]

Is this the iPassport?

 

[Velli]

not making it 16:9 ratio and creating a horrible bezel and letterbox watching video content is totally on brand for what apple is doing currently.

16:9 unfolded is almost square (8:9) when folded, which would be ridiculous. I’m not fan of folding phones and unlikely to buy one, but they made the right call here. The chances of me buying one is raised from 1% to 5%.

 

[Ctrlos]

Yeah, that front screen is going to be at least 16:9 in size so it’s useable somewhat with one hand. Why would you make a CAD model with such a squat front display?

 

[Velli]

App compatibility might be a bit sparse to start with...Could look rough for outdated apps.

For outdated apps, sure. But for modern apps, I don’t even think about it anymore when I use an iPhone app on my iPad Mini.

I think the opposite. App support is where they will obliterate Android on folding phones. Modern iPhone apps are great at adapting to different screen sizes, and add to that the potential of installing iPad apps that are only available when unfolded. The state of apps on Android tablets is the main reason they are largely irrelevant in the market.

My main concern is that they just spent years diversifying iOS and iPad OS. So, my best guess is that unfolded it will still run iOS without the iPad OS specific features, but be able to run iPad apps. So it won’t quite be an iPad in your pocket, it would be a simplified iPad. Which makes sense I guess. I’m also guessing no pencil support.

 

[Velli]

Yeah, that front screen is going to be at least 16:9 in size so it’s useable somewhat with one hand. Why would you make a CAD model with such a squat front display?

Because the rumoured size is iPad Mini sized when unfolded, which is 4:3. That makes it 2:3 when folded. It actually makes more sense that unfolding a 16:9 screen into an almost square 16:18.

 

[Velli]

That thing is awkward and ugly af

The “ugly” part is mainly due to the designer assuming it will look like a 17 Pro on the back. It’s more likely to look like iPhone Air, with the more clean back.

“The “awkward” look of the 2:3 format is a matter of habit. 2:3 was the format of the original iPhone display, and is a very common format for photographs.

 

[yuvaldv1]

How so?

I thought it would be more similar to the Fold 7. I did not expect this screen ratio for the outer display.

 

[miric]

OK, have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy that will go to a trash can soon and waste the planet. Just because you have a 3D Printer and you can.

 

[deuxani]

I still don’t understand why. Surely if you work in a job that requires work to be done in a tablet sized device, you already have other bits to carry with you, a briefcase for example. I also feel that this device will be a compromise compared to either dedicated device. For examples this device won’t have a hardware keyboard & trackpad, massively limiting its usability compared to an iPad. So it’s going to need to be handheld to type on. That means the keyboard will likely take up at least a third of the screen. Other than a slightly larger screen I cannot see what advantage this device has over an iPhone. It will likely lack features of the cheaper iPhone pro, a key element often cited for why the iPhone air has flopped.

I know many people who want a Pro Max or even bigger, but don’t want such a huge device in their pocket all the time, so they always go for the regular Pro. I am one of them. I literally can’t sit down comfortably with a Pro Max in my pocket, while the Pro is totally fine.

I use my iPhone all the time for browsing, messaging, quick photo editing and some video watching, so the bigger the screen the better. Obviously I am not walking around with an iPad Mini in my pocket and I am not going to bring a bag with me everywhere I go. Even at home I have my iPhone in my pocket at all times.

So having something pocketable that can become iPad Mini sized by unfolding it is solving that issue nicely. The goal of this foldable is that you are mostly going to use it unfolded and just use the folded state for quick interactions. And yes, it will have some compromises, but so does every phone.

 

[macduke]

Oh cool. I’m traveling for the holidays, but fired up my 3D printer back at home remotely and have this thing printing right now. Should be waiting for me when I get home this weekend. Curious if this size will finally satisfy my wife. Going to stick it in her pants and hope it fits. She can be a tight squeeze! Let’s hope it doesn’t cost too much.

 

[MacRazySwe]

remember when tv makers wanted to push 3d. foldables are the same.

Are you sure? I never saw the appeal of 3D TVs, but having one device that can be an iPhone and iPad is appealing to me at least. It can effectively replace two devices.

If one could dream (probably won't happen) - imagine a scenario where it can connect to a Studio Display and run something similar to DEX. That could be your one and only device. Probably won't happen under Tim Cooks leadership, as he'd rather sell you 3 devices, but I'm sure the technology is there.