While I’d want the larger version, it makes sense for them to test the waters with the smaller one first. I’d still expect it to be $999 minimum for the small one, maybe as much as $1299.
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Report: Apple Close to Selecting Supplier for Foldable Display
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As someone who carried a caseless Z Flip4 for over two years, I can tell you you'll love the "iPhone flip" form factor and how it feels in the pocket. And it will open to a bigger screen than the Mini, which you'll also appreciate.
Samsung's first foldable-screen phone was the Galaxy Fold (2019). They didn't release the Flip until a year later (2020). And IIRC, when other companies have introduced their first foldables, they were tablet-sized as well.
So the industry trend, at least, has been to test the market with a big one—probably because that's what most people, like yourself, want. Plus Apple has progressively been moving towards larger screens. That's why I expect they will lead with a Z-Fold sized phone, but am hoping they also include a Z-Flip in their lineup.
And yes, I'd also expect even a smaller foldable to be pricey, since the BOM (bill of materials) is going to be determined by its unfolded size. The Z-Flip 6 is 6.7", close to the 6.9" of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. So if Apple makes a Z-Flip-sized iPhone, I'd expect it to start at around the same price as the contemporaneous Pro Max (currently $1200).
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Apple are not magicians. They might come with a cleaver hinge solution so the folding mechanism could work slightly better and be a bit more reliable than the competition, but don't expect any jaw-dropping innovation here. The state of the technology is what is it. It is a bit more mature that the first foldable displays that were put on the market, but still have important downsides and those who decide to use this type of devices should accept it.
Except if Apple were willing to produce a foldable with only midrange performance, they would have done so already.
Apple's repeatedly said they've held off releasing a foldable because the tech is not yet there to meet their standards.
So maybe by the time they do release a foldable, the tech will have advanced sufficiently (not just for Apple, but for everyone, since Apple will probably source their screens from someone like Samsung) that foldables can be true premium products.
Of course, there is a possibility Apple could surprise us by releasing tech more advanced than everyone else's, as they did when they introduced the Apple Silicon Macs. Though I think that's less likely to happen with foldables.
I wouldn't hold by breath really. We saw what happened with Vision Pro. A better product than the competition in terms of overall package and execution but nothing groundbreaking. I also still remember when the first Apple Watch was about to be announced and all these crazy concepts and rumors were circulating all over the internet. The final product was well below the insane expectation that many had (e.g. curved super-thin display that wraps around your wrist). Well, that wasn't possible at that time and still isn't. Same applies for the downsides that foldable smartphones currently have (durability and visible mark where the screen bends). Apple is definitely capable to show better, smarter and more innovative solution but they cannot do miracles.
There was a first generation, a second, a third, etc. Of course Apple didn’t sell it, Samsung did. This folding iPhone will be the end result of all of those years Apple secretly purchased folding phones from other manufacturers including Samsung to test in their labs.
Oh! That doesn't sound bad at all, I could easily handle another 1mm (indeed I've often said I wish they'd make iPhones as thick as the camera so they don't need a bump).
do you remember the illustration used for this post? it was showing a flip-folded phone with no external display.
I measured my pro with an apple case, it was 11mm thick, that's about 0.43.
so it is indeed thicker than the pixel 9 fold - according to the specs is 0.4" which is 10.16mm - by less than a mm.
the iPhone w/o the case is 0.31", so 7.8mm - so 2mm thinner than the pixel.
I'm not a fan of overly thin personal devices as they need some level of rigidity, and I believe that the pixel 9 fold is not too bulky either. but it is a brick if you consider it's weight: 257g which is more than half a pound.
there's no free lunch. and people put cases on their phones for a reason, or at least I do it for a reason. you don't put any case on the fold 9, because it is not possible. whether you think it is a limitation, I don't know, but I sort of believe this makes the device more vulnerable. same goes for debris getting between the folding screens - I would say this is not ideal, but that's just my personal opinion. maybe it will never happen to many.
still, the fold 9 has at least some practical use with the 3rd screen, it can be used as a normal smartphone without being forced to open it every single time. but please remember: my rant was primarily targeting the flip-style foldable devices, which is just a dumb idea capitalising the novelty factor without truly considering actual impacts on user experience.
and I have my own concerns about the screen aspect ratio of the horizontally folding devices too, but that's more like a matter of tastes: you seem to like it, while I don't - and I won't start no war about it
…There are absolutely cases for the Pixel 9 Fold. Also my iPhone 16 Pro Max is absolutely heavier (expanded) or negligible (folded) between the two using them both daily.do you remember the illustration used for this post? it was showing a flip-folded phone with no external display.
I measured my pro with an apple case, it was 11mm thick, that's about 0.43.
so it is indeed thicker than the pixel 9 fold - according to the specs is 0.4" which is 10.16mm - by less than a mm.
the iPhone w/o the case is 0.31", so 7.8mm - so 2mm thinner than the pixel.
I'm not a fan of overly thin personal devices as they need some level of rigidity, and I believe that the pixel 9 fold is not too bulky either. but it is a brick if you consider it's weight: 257g which is more than half a pound.
there's no free lunch. and people put cases on their phones for a reason, or at least I do it for a reason. you don't put any case on the fold 9, because it is not possible. whether you think it is a limitation, I don't know, but I sort of believe this makes the device more vulnerable. same goes for debris getting between the folding screens - I would say this is not ideal, but that's just my personal opinion. maybe it will never happen to many.
still, the fold 9 has at least some practical use with the 3rd screen, it can be used as a normal smartphone without being forced to open it every single time. but please remember: my rant was primarily targeting the flip-style foldable devices, which is just a dumb idea capitalising the novelty factor without truly considering actual impacts on user experience.
and I have my own concerns about the screen aspect ratio of the horizontally folding devices too, but that's more like a matter of tastes: you seem to like it, while I don't - and I won't start no war about it
Noted though what kind of foldable phone you’re most concerned with.
If they make it an Ultra Retina XDR foldable screen, it automatically is a huge improvement over existing options and being particularly exciting for prosumers.
If it is a horizontal folding phone meant to be a mini tablet when unfolded of course.