Other Rumoured iPhone fold size - concept drawing and renders

[iZac]

OK so I've been slightly obsessed with the size of the upcoming iPhone fold since it was rumoured that the outer screen would be 5.5" and wanted to know how it compared to my beloved iPhone mini.

One article the other day suggested an exact resolution and sizes for screens so that let me sketch out the device, using these as a fix and working my way outwards. I've done two or three versions of this over the last month and this is my latest, based on all the collated rumours with a little bit of artistic licence. Apologies, there's a lot of images here. I don't expect it will look exactly like this, but I think I got the size pretty close now.

Animated gif comparing a 16 pro max silhouette and 13 mini silhouette:

Assorted comparisons with a 15 Pro max and 12 mini (the only two other 3D models I had to hand) -

Closed:

Open:

Stacked:

(note the need for a sharp corner on the left edge to accommodate the opening screen - bad luck left handed users)

Assorted shots:

A midnight colourway test:

Some animated renders:

EDIT:

a mock-up of the device with a keyboard in a 'laptop' orientation and an aluminium camera bump since that's been seen in some of the recent dummy models:

EDIT 2:

I was asked to do a quick comparison with an iPad mini, which makes a lot of sense. I don't know why I didn't think of it before (I know why - I'm just iPhone mini obsessed) I decided to line it up with the screen on the bottom left corner, because it turns out this rumoured fold is a fair bit smaller than an iPad mini and screen size is probably what people are most interested in.

Although the overall size of this iPad mini is 195.4mm x 134.8mm, I can't vouch for the exact precision of the modelling of it's screen size, since I just grabbed it off the internet. None-the-less, in this moded the iPad mini screen is 16.5mm wider and 2.9mm taller than the screen in my iPhone fold mock-up.

 

[Falhófnir]

Nice renders! My immediate thought is given the dramatically different aspect ratio for the outer display, a lot of apps may struggle to scale correctly without updates? Letterboxing would make for a truly tiny 16:9/19.5:9 app! I'm assuming the inner display will use the iPad versions where available, or possibly letterbox an iPhone version initially.

 

[iZac]

Nice renders! My immediate thought is given the dramatically different aspect ratio for the outer display, a lot of apps may struggle to scale correctly without updates? Letterboxing would make for a truly tiny 16:9/19.5:9 app! I'm assuming the inner display will use the iPad versions where available, or possibly letterbox an iPhone version initially.

Yeah that's a good point, there's bound to be a bunch of buggy apps at launch! The aspect ratios probably match an iPad more than an iPhone, so a dev that's targets both iPad and iPhone on their app is probably in a better position.

 

[iZac]

btw, @deuxani as requested.

I did it a while ago but tbh I was waiting for another fold-related news article.

The sizes of my old drawing and renders were actually pretty close - this is only different by a couple of millimetres.

I think with knowing the exact screen resolutions along with screen sizes, I'm relatively confident about the size of this now (well disregarding the completely invented hinge)

 

[deuxani]

btw, @deuxani as requested.

I did it a while ago but tbh I was waiting for another fold-related news article.

The sizes of my old drawing and renders were actually pretty close - this is only different by a couple of millimetres.

I think with knowing the exact screen resolutions along with screen sizes, I'm relatively confident about the size of this now (well disregarding the completely invented hinge)

Your renders give such a good and realistic impression of what this device might actually look like and what the size will be in comparison to devices we know in the real world. Thanks a lot for all the effort, it takes so much time to make these and it’s much appreciated!

I’m really curious to see how Apple is going to solve this software wise. Especially the front screen might be weird. But these rumors get me excited again about new iPhones.

 

[iZac]

Your renders give such a good and realistic impression of what this device might actually look like and what the size will be in comparison to devices we know in the real world. Thanks a lot for all the effort, it takes so much time to make these and it’s much appreciated!

I’m really curious to see how Apple is going to solve this software wise. Especially the front screen might be weird. But these rumors get me excited again about new iPhones.

No problem at all, glad my own obsessiveness helped you out!

The aspect ratio of this thing probably matches an iPad pretty well (although a lot smaller on the front screen)

Apps that work for both iPad and iPhone might be relatively simple to update - but we'll see!

 

[blairh]

I have your images saved on my desktop. This is truly awesome. Thanks so much man. A true game changer device!!

 

[xxFoxtail]

I love those renders! If I’m being honest, I’d much prefer to just have an iPhone with that outer screen only. But, I think I can be happy with the foldable. I like my iPad for a lot of things, but I think even the 11" is a bit big sometimes.

 

[blairh]

My biggest takeaway from these renders is how we can finally easily access the top of the folding iPhone screen. This is something that truly annoys me daily about all iPhones. (It's worse of course on the Max models.) It's impossible for me to reach the top quarter of my Pro Max without shifting my hands entirely. This folding model will solve that. Just about anyone can reach any part of that folded outer screen.

Plus we will have such a wide device folded that it will make two-thumb typing a dream. (The main reason I use a PM is the wider screen makes for easier typing, for me at least.)

It will also be so nice to have a proper wide rectangle to look at and navigate when opened. Right now we are all stuck using tall and relatively narrow iPhone screens. This will change all that.

 

[Stotka]

I love my 13mini and this would be the best replacement since they wont be making any new small phones. The new Huawei Pura X has a similar form factor.

 

[sunapple]

Closed aspect ratio gives me flashbacks to the third gen iPod nano, I like it. Something different.

 

[MacRazySwe]

Well done! But that's a weird size if true. Not going to fit well in pockets...

 

[TgeekB]

Nice job! An interesting device no doubt. I know I would never buy it because I like my phone to fit in my pocket but I’m sure it would be popular with other users.

 

[macbookj0e]

Seeing it in renders like that has definitely made me more interested. I too was a 12 and 13 mini owner and miss that small form factor.

This is fairly close with an additional big advantage.

Also don’t suppose you have a link or name to that wallpaper by any chance please?! 🙏

 

[Sami13496]

It looks like Surface Duo. That form factor is so useless on so many levels. That will be Apple’s biggest flop if that’s it. The renders are nice!

 

[iZac]

Seeing it in renders like that has definitely made me more interested. I too was a 12 and 13 mini owner and miss that small form factor.

This is fairly close with an additional big advantage.

Also don’t suppose you have a link or name to that wallpaper by any chance please?! 🙏

Yeah it's going to be really wide, but I really hope that it will feel 'stable' - like it won't topple out of my fingers, even if I can't grip the sides well.

Maybe I should get it 3D printed to get a feel for it

The wallpaper is just the default one for macOS Monterey - I like purple!

 

[Ctrlos]

Personally I would have gone for something closer to the Huawei Pura X the OG Pixel Fold but otherwise nice render!

 

[pappkristof]

Nice renders, but a way too wide screen. How to hold it with one hand even if closed?

 

[endemize]

Nice renders, but a way too wide screen. How to hold it with one hand even if closed?

You would hold it like an iPad. Those are iPad dimensions. Looks perfect to me.

 

[Danno Bonano]

Nice renders, but a way too wide screen. How to hold it with one hand even if closed?

Do we call this an iPhad???

 

[iZac]

Do we call this an iPhad???

I swear these foldables should resurrect the iBook trademark

 

[KnowsHowItWorks]

Excellent JIF and renders, kind stranger.

 

[iPod2001]

Excellent renders , presume this is the rumoured iPhone ultra model ? Or it could be the foldable iPad that Apple is rumoured to be internal testing .

 

[KnowsHowItWorks]

Btw, can we have this Without unfolding mechanism? Like iPhone micro.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

My biggest takeaway from these renders is how we can finally easily access the top of the folding iPhone screen. This is something that truly annoys me daily about all iPhones. (It's worse of course on the Max models.) It's impossible for me to reach the top quarter of my Pro Max without shifting my hands entirely. This folding model will solve that. Just about anyone can reach any part of that folded outer screen.

Plus we will have such a wide device folded that it will make two-thumb typing a dream. (The main reason I use a PM is the wider screen makes for easier typing, for me at least.)

It will also be so nice to have a proper wide rectangle to look at and navigate when opened. Right now we are all stuck using tall and relatively narrow iPhone screens. This will change all that.

Im not sure . Given the prehension needed to use that wide aspect ratio, you might not actually be able to reach the top with your thumb