Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iZac

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Apr 28, 2003
2,865
3,718
UK
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:
fold-gif.gif


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

Closed:
Comparison_closed.png


Open:
Comparison_open.png


Stacked:
Comparison_stacked_top.png

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


Assorted shots:
Bottom_left.png

Bottom_right.png

scattered.png


A midnight colourway test:
Midnight.png



Some animated renders:

I also posted some of this content in a recent news article but didn't want to clutter that up with loads of images. Hope this is of some interest to people!
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Falhófnir
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)
 
  • Love
Reactions: 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.
 
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! :cool:

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!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: deuxani
I have your images saved on my desktop. This is truly awesome. Thanks so much man. A true game changer device!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: iZac
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iZac
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.
 
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeithBN and 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?! 🙏
 
  • Like
Reactions: 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 :confused:

The wallpaper is just the default one for macOS Monterey - I like purple!
 
Last edited:
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 .
 
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
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.