iPhone Foldable Display Said to Feature iPad-Style 4:3 Aspect Ratio

[j26]

For you math nerds—what does the aspect ratio have to be for the inside and outside screens to have the same ratio?

ISO A standards for printer paper will give you the answer. Each descending size is the previous one folded in half - A4 is half of A3, and A5 is half of A4 etc.

 

[AdamHarbour]

Now will the Apple polishing cloth be supported? What do you think?
Because this screen will get dirty real fast.

The upgraded polish cloth will be compatible it will fold in half as well

 

[UltimaKilo]

I feel like I can already see the writing on the wall with this: first-gen fold gets a ton of people (myself included) to bite on an upgrade due to the new form factor. But in order to achieve the battery / size / weight targets they’ll have cut out a couple of notable features… dual/triple camera system, FaceID, etc… then gen 2 and gen 3 get people to bite again when those features get reintroduced! Maybe I’m just a sucker

Nope, you’re likely correct. 3rd gen has the benefit of consumer feedback since Gen 2 is already deep in development shortly upon Gen 1 releases. I remember the first 3 generations of iPad were crap, the Apple Watch was crap until the S2 released, the Vision Pro is garbage (although that was a rushed product).

 

[subjonas]

Oh, I get you!

You have x and y dimensions of your inner display with an aspect ratio represented by x:y (or x/y). Assume we’re folding the display along the y-axis, halving the x-axis dimension, and want the aspect ratio to stay the same. So we know that .5x/y (aspect ratio of inner screen folded) = y/x (aspect ratio of outer screen, orientation will flip here). Plugging in x=1 we solve for y and get 1/sqrt(2).

1:0.707 is the answer.

If we had a 1000 x 707 pixel display, with an aspect ratio of 1000/707 = 1.414, and folded that to 500x707 its aspect ratio would remain the same but rotated at 707/500 = 1.414. Here’s that example visualized from DisplayWars:
View attachment 2496813

Visual TV Size Comparison : 7.49 inch 1000x707 display vs 5.3 inch 500x707 display

Visual size comparison of a 7.49 inch 1000x707 display vs 5.3 inch 500x707 display

displaywars.com

That’s it! And for a 3 panel fold the repeating aspect ratio would be 1:√3, for a 4 panel fold 1:√4, and so forth.

 

[subjonas]

Got it! You're describing a shape (likely a rectangle) where:

1. The width is xx, the height is yy, and the diagonal is 5.5.
   • This gives the equation:
     x2+y2=5.52x2+y2=5.52
2. When two of these shapes are placed side by side, the new width becomes 2x2x, the height stays yy, and the diagonal is 7.8.
   • This gives the equation:
     (2x)2+y2=7.82(2x)2+y2=7.82

---

Step 1: Write the Equations​

Expanding the given equations:

x2+y2=30.25x2+y2=30.254x2+y2=60.844x2+y2=60.84

---

Step 2: Subtract the First Equation from the Second​

(4x2+y2)−(x2+y2)=60.84−30.25(4x2+y2)−(x2+y2)=60.84−30.253x2=30.593x2=30.59x2=10.197x2=10.197x=10.197x=10.197x≈3.19x≈3.19

---

Step 3: Solve for yy​

Substituting x2=10.197x2=10.197 into the first equation:

10.197+y2=30.2510.197+y2=30.25y2=30.25−10.197y2=30.25−10.197y2=20.053y2=20.053y=20.053y=20.053y≈4.48y≈4.48

---

Final Answer:​

• Width x≈3.19x≈3.19
• Height y≈4.48y≈4.48

So, the original shape has dimensions 3.19×4.483.19×4.48, and when placed side by side, the combined shape is 6.38×4.486.38×4.48 with a diagonal of 7.8.


so maybe 3.2 inch x 4.48 inch that sound very pocketable

Yes, if these rumored 5.5” and 7.8” diagonals are to be believed, then it appears 3.19” x 4.48” would be the outside display dimensions, with the inside being 4.48” x 6.39”. It’s interesting because the folded outside display has a (slightly) squarer ratio, about 1.40:1, than the unfolded inside display, about 1.43:1. All the two-panel foldables I’ve seen have been the opposite—the inside display is squarer than the outside, and much squarer at that. So it’s also interesting that for this device the outside and inside displays are pretty similar aspect ratios, which I have not seen in other two-panel foldables.

Edit- I forgot this article is about the foldable being rumored to have a “roughly” 4:3 aspect ratio for the inside display, so this somewhat contradicts the 5.5” + 7.8” diagonal rumor. To put it in comparable terms:
4:3 = 1.33:1
5.5” + 7.8” diagonal = 1.43:1 (inside)
3:2 = 1.5:1
So it’s closer to 3:2 than 4:3. But the leaker did apparently say “roughly 4:3” so in context I would just interpret that to mean “it looks quite a bit squarer than current iPhones”.

 

[macjaffa]

Yes, if these rumored 5.5” and 7.8” diagonals are to be believed, then it appears 3.19” x 4.48” would be the outside display dimensions, with the inside being 4.48” x 6.39”. It’s interesting because the folded outside display has a (slightly) squarer ratio, about 1.40:1, than the unfolded inside display, about 1.43:1. All the two-panel foldables I’ve seen have been the opposite—the inside display is squarer than the outside, and much squarer at that. So it’s also interesting that for this device the outside and inside displays are pretty similar aspect ratios, which I have not seen in other two-panel foldables.

Edit- I forgot this article is about the foldable being rumored to have a “roughly” 4:3 aspect ratio for the inside display, so this somewhat contradicts the 5.5” + 7.8” diagonal rumor. To put it in comparable terms:
4:3 = 1.33:1
5.5” + 7.8” diagonal = 1.43:1 (inside)
3:2 = 1.5:1
So it’s closer to 3:2 than 4:3. But the leaker did apparently say “roughly 4:3” so in context I would just interpret that to mean “it looks quite a bit squarer than current iPhones”.

Its like the size of the old blackberrys.

 

[Tagbert]

Yes technically outer display x:y ratio would become inner display y:x ratio--but for all intents and purposes that's the same ratio, since the device can be orientated any way one wishes.

Except one would be half the size and much more narrow.

 

[Janichsan]

That’s it! And for a 3 panel fold the repeating aspect ratio would be 1:√3, for a 4 panel fold 1:√4, and so forth.

That's not how this works. Also 1:√4 = 1:2.

 

[subjonas]

That's not how this works.

The cool thing about math is there is no need to debate! If you take a 1” x √3” rectangle, triple it, and align the panels long side against long side, the new rectangle is 3” x √3”.
3:√3 = √3:1.
And 4:√4 = √4:1, 5:√5 = √5:1, etc.

Also 1:√4 = 1:2

Yup

 

[subjonas]

Except one would be half the size

Of course! Because we’re talking about folding displays, right?

and much more narrow.

? Again, they would have the same aspect ratio but one would be rotated.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Yes, if these rumored 5.5” and 7.8” diagonals are to be believed, then it appears 3.19” x 4.48” would be the outside display dimensions, with the inside being 4.48” x 6.39”. It’s interesting because the folded outside display has a (slightly) squarer ratio, about 1.40:1, than the unfolded inside display, about 1.43:1. All the two-panel foldables I’ve seen have been the opposite—the inside display is squarer than the outside, and much squarer at that. So it’s also interesting that for this device the outside and inside displays are pretty similar aspect ratios, which I have not seen in other two-panel foldables.

Edit- I forgot this article is about the foldable being rumored to have a “roughly” 4:3 aspect ratio for the inside display, so this somewhat contradicts the 5.5” + 7.8” diagonal rumor. To put it in comparable terms:
4:3 = 1.33:1
5.5” + 7.8” diagonal = 1.43:1 (inside)
3:2 = 1.5:1
So it’s closer to 3:2 than 4:3. But the leaker did apparently say “roughly 4:3” so in context I would just interpret that to mean “it looks quite a bit squarer than current iPhones”.

@iZac put together a great visualization of what the screens might look like with the rumored aspect ratios and sizes, quoted below:

OK, I'm sure I'll post this again on some other folding iPhone news article (This is MacRumours, I'm certain there'll be plenty!)

This is my complete speculation based on the rumoured screen sizes (5.5" internal, 7.8" external) lined up so the screen heights correspond, with a simple 2mm bezel around them to arrive at an approximate size. *sigh* It's sad to see this is not going to be good for us mini users!

(click to embiggen)

View attachment 2496093

 

[iZac]

@iZac put together a great visualization of what the screens might look like with the rumored aspect ratios and sizes, quoted below:

Cheers for the shout out! I actually went down a rabbit hole fiddling with it to make the internal screen explicitly 4:3 and then because I was bored of CAD, quickly modelled it up.

Forcing the internal screen to be exactly 4:3 does make the device a bit wider taller though. I could re-pdf the CAD of my version 2 but ah - looking at renders is more fun:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pcoming-foldable-iphone.2454254/post-33829911

 

[subjonas]

Cheers for the shout out! I actually went down a rabbit hole fiddling with it to make the internal screen explicitly 4:3 and then because I was bored of CAD, quickly modelled it up.

Forcing the internal screen to be exactly 4:3 does make the device a fair bit wider though. I could re-pdf the CAD of my version 2 but ah - looking at renders is more fun:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pcoming-foldable-iphone.2454254/post-33829911

Awesome work!
Curious though- you listed the diagonals as still being 5.5” and 7.8” after you adjusted the interior screen to be 4:3. It’s a tiny discrepancy, but at least one of the diagonals should have changed to compensate for the new ratio. Not by much, like only .1” or .2” or so. Is that what you measure in your model?

Since the report says “roughly 4:3” and the diagonals are very specific, I’m more inclined to believe the diagonals are correct resulting in a 4.29:3 aspect ratio, slightly longer than 4:3.

Also what did you mean by “make the device a fair bit wider”? Do you mean the unfolded 4:3 aspect ratio makes the folded phone in portrait orientation wider? It shouldn’t, it should make it taller. Or did you mean something else?

 

[iZac]

Awesome work!
Curious though- you listed the diagonals as still being 5.5” and 7.8” after you adjusted the interior screen to be 4:3. It’s a tiny discrepancy, but at least one of the diagonals should have changed to compensate for the new ratio. Not by much, like only .1” or .2” or so. Is that what you measure in your model?

Since the report says “roughly 4:3” and the diagonals are very specific, I’m more inclined to believe the diagonals are correct resulting in a 4.29:3 aspect ratio, slightly longer than 4:3.

Also what did you mean by “make the device a fair bit wider”? Do you mean the unfolded 4:3 aspect ratio makes the folded phone in portrait orientation wider? It shouldn’t, it should make it taller. Or did you mean

Yup, you're right sorry I did mean 'make the device taller' in the 2nd version - just to specifically hit the 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display.

Version 1 is somewhere in-between 4:3 and and 3:2. The inner and outer aren't exactly the same, just to accommodate matching bezels.

Ah, my sketches are probably not logically sound - just my obsessiveness has been to see how this thing will compare to my iPhone mini I hope it helps people extrapolate their own answers at least!

 

[subjonas]

Yup, you're right sorry I did mean 'make the device taller' in the 2nd version - just to specifically hit the 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display.

Version 1 is somewhere in-between 4:3 and and 3:2. The inner and outer aren't exactly the same, just to accommodate matching bezels.

Ah, my sketches are probably not logically sound - just my obsessiveness has been to see how this thing will compare to my iPhone mini I hope it helps people extrapolate their own answers at least!

Ah I forgot the bezels might mess with the numbers a little bit.

Your sketches and renders were helpful to many people, I’m sure. It was to me!

 

[akbarali.ch]

This should not be rewarded and is honestly ridiculous.

In 2025, with the flexible software tooling at hand to adjust to various sizes and form factors, we should not be getting rigidly forced into huge screens due to lazy development.

Exactly, but that is how it, so many months it would be so hard to read in-app OTP of uber/ola apps in India as they were so small, now its bigger and bolder.
And there are bunch of apps. e.g India's trading app like Zerodha Kite. who's UI text can be adjusted, which is fine, but the fonts on the charts's axis is so so small that its hardly readable and not affected by font size. The only way to fix that is too buy a larger screen phone like 6.8 or so.