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Other Rumoured iPhone fold size - concept drawing and renders

now we are in jan i'm sure we will see more leaks with the dimensions and accuracy

i was going to get both 18 pro max and fold but think will just get the fold. think will tick all boxes i want

what will be interesting is if apple will have a different OS just for fold line or just make things from ipadOS
 
iZac said:
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 I 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:
View attachment 2507700

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

Closed:
View attachment 2507702

Open:
View attachment 2507703

Stacked:
View attachment 2507704
(note the need for a sharp corner on the left edge to accommodate the opening screen - bad luck left handed users)
View attachment 2507705

Assorted shots:
View attachment 2507706
View attachment 2507707
View attachment 2507710

A midnight colourway test:
View attachment 2507711

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:
View attachment 2508217View attachment 2508218


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 its screen size, since I just grabbed it off the internet. None-the-less, in this model the iPad mini screen is 16.5mm wider and 2.9mm taller than the screen in my iPhone fold mock-up.
View attachment 2511000
View attachment 2511001


EDIT 3:

A couple of people have asked about the wallpaper, it's just the default wallpaper for MacOS Monterey.

https://512pixels.net/projects/default-mac-wallpapers-in-5k/
Click to expand...
Could you do an update of the the size comparison to the mini & pro max with the new Fold dimensions? Seems to be smaller than originally anticipated, 5.3" outside display
 
Samsung, Oppo, and Honor are all expected to release wide and short foldables this year. OEM's realize Apple has the right idea with their future foldable.
 
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imdog said:
Could you do an update of the the size comparison to the mini & pro max with the new Fold dimensions? Seems to be smaller than originally anticipated, 5.3" outside display
Click to expand...
Whilst I haven't updated the size yet (I'm not lazy, just disorganised) I did update the original post in this thread to show more images of the updated iPhone Air style design. I also think the new renders are much better quality than my first round. Hope it's of interest!

I'll link the Youtube video here as well in case anyone's just casually browsing the latest posts 😎
 
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iZac said:
Whilst I haven't updated the size yet (I'm not lazy, just disorganised) I did update the original post in this thread to show more images of the updated iPhone Air style design. I also think the new renders are much better quality than my first round. Hope it's of interest!

I'll link the Youtube video here as well in case anyone's just casually browsing the latest posts 😎
Click to expand...
A joy to watch mate! 🙂
 
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iZac said:
Whilst I haven't updated the size yet (I'm not lazy, just disorganised) I did update the original post in this thread to show more images of the updated iPhone Air style design. I also think the new renders are much better quality than my first round. Hope it's of interest!

I'll link the Youtube video here as well in case anyone's just casually browsing the latest posts 😎
Click to expand...
excellent work as usual! love that it's 60fps too
 
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Gurman in his newsletter today says Apple is starting work on a potential clamshell model. I really hope this becomes reality. I got my parents iPhone 16e's last spring because I wanted their first smartphones to be iPhones and their needs are minimal. But as a form factor, they both would have strongly preferred a clamshell smartphone.

He also mentions the potential of larger folding book-style iPhones in the future. I do believe the folding model, in due time, will see two size categories in the same vein as the Pro and Pro Max lines.
 
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I have never been a fold phone kind of guy but I do recognize the importance of this new format iPhone when it does come out and as such, plan to order mine in the maxed out storage configuration and in the "hero color" whatever that color may be. Once I get this new iPhone it will go straight into my iPhone collection never to be used.

As I initially posted . . . I'm not a fold phone kind of guy. I still prefer using my iPhone 13 mini and 15 Pro as I prefer the smaller sized iPhones over the much bigger versions we see as a common place today.
 
Looks like we know the button placements now.

As I suspected, volume buttons on the top right edge. I think this is the right choice. There won't be a ton of space on such a short device.

Of course Prosser was once again wrong, saying the power button would be on the top. 🤡

My hope is that they will include some sort of indentation between the power and camera control buttons to make opening the device easier.
 
Recently I was thinking about this mold that was created to start building cases early:

IMG_1426.jpeg


At first I didn’t think much of it, but the shorter camera plateau had me intrigued. We all assume it will go from edge to edge, but this is the first one that showed a different design. And with the new rumors saying the motherboard will be on the right side, so probably not in the plateau like the iPhone Air, it could make sense actually. I’m so curious for the final design!
 
deuxani said:
Recently I was thinking about this mold that was created to start building cases early:

View attachment 2601497

At first I didn’t think much of it, but the shorter camera plateau had me intrigued. We all assume it will go from edge to edge, but this is the first one that showed a different design. And with the new rumors saying the motherboard will be on the right side, so probably not in the plateau like the iPhone Air, it could make sense actually. I’m so curious for the final design!
Click to expand...

I'd suspect that the 'right side' they mention is when the device is open and screen is facing them. My internal logic was to put all the buttons on the camera bump side so ribbon cables didn't have to run across the hinge and that the motherboard would be stacked under the camera bump. I think that logic still holds true, with yesterdays suggestion that the volume buttons are on the same side for that very reason.

As you say, it seems there may be some veracity to this case mould.

I'm most intrigued by the supposed black camera bump, which really brings into question the material choice on the back because the only two black camera bumps in Apples line-up that come to mind are the iPhone X and M1 iPad Pro (oh and 7 plus!):
qJrMHFF7PR224mwsgPBZn5.jpg


One Glass and sharp, one Aluminium and filleted 😕

The case prototype kind-of suggests a soft fillet like the iPad. So that sends me down a rabbit hole, I did a really quick push-pull on my model to test some things. It's not finished, just crudely done to test - don't judge me too harshly!


iPhone Air Style (Glass to glass junction?)
Air.png



iPad Pro style (Metal frame?)
iPad.png



iPhone X Style (looks like a Pixel now?)
X.png


I'm really not sure. I assume the 'air' version would be the direction, but think the glass-to-glass junction is weird, and separating it with a metal collar / ring seems messy.

Oh, also I tested a black camera bump way back last March!
 
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blairh said:
The idea of Apple employees looking at your work makes me smile haha.
Click to expand...

I hope they're taking notes! 😉

I double and triple checked that it's not somehow part of the iMessage traffic - it's not.

Definitely coming from inside Apple.

All I can think is that they have some proprietary Slack / Teams service and they've sent it to a couple of people there. As you say, it's fun to think someone from Apple is checking out my silly renders.
 
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iZac said:
I hope they're taking notes! 😉

I double and triple checked that it's not somehow part of the iMessage traffic - it's not.

Definitely coming from inside Apple.

All I can think is that they have some proprietary Slack / Teams service and they've sent it to a couple of people there. As you say, it's fun to think someone from Apple is checking out my silly renders.
Click to expand...
Well if you receive a cease and decist notice, then we'll know that your renders are spot on!
 
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iZac said:
I'd suspect that the 'right side' they mention is when the device is open and screen is facing them. My internal logic was to put all the buttons on the camera bump side so ribbon cables didn't have to run across the hinge and that the motherboard would be stacked under the camera bump. I think that logic still holds true, with yesterdays suggestion that the volume buttons are on the same side for that very reason.

As you say, it seems there may be some veracity to this case mould.

I'm most intrigued by the supposed black camera bump, which really brings into question the material choice on the back because the only two black camera bumps in Apples line-up that come to mind are the iPhone X and M1 iPad Pro (oh and 7 plus!):
View attachment 2601512

One Glass and sharp, one Aluminium and filleted 😕

The case prototype kind-of suggests a soft fillet like the iPad. So that sends me down a rabbit hole, I did a really quick push-pull on my model to test some things. It's not finished, just crudely done to test - don't judge me too harshly!


iPhone Air Style (Glass to glass junction?)
View attachment 2601525


iPad Pro style (Metal frame?)
View attachment 2601526


iPhone X Style (looks like a Pixel now?)
View attachment 2601527

I'm really not sure. I assume the 'air' version would be the direction, but think the glass-to-glass junction is weird, and separating it with a metal collar / ring seems messy.

Oh, also I tested a black camera bump way back last March!
Click to expand...
Now that black camera plateau rumor makes me wonder if that leaker got that idea from your original design 😂 If not, it would be really cool you had this idea initially already.

I got so many ideas now after your camera redesign.

- What if the flash is in between the lenses like on the iPhone X, that would look better and more symmetrical.
- What if the camera plateau is actually not from left to right like the Air but from top to bottom like the 17. Especially if the motherboard is on that side too.
- The plateau could be similar to the Air and 17, so glass to glass junction, but yeah it looks strange with black. I almost forgot it was like that on the X.

Maybe having everything more on one side helps balance the phone better also, because of the hinge being on the other. But yeah, difficult to determine if they are going the Samsung and iPhone 17 or Google and iPhone Air route for the camera placement.

IMG_1457.webp


IMG_1454.jpeg
 
Let's assume these CADs from Sonny are legit. Looks like an action button above the volume buttons. Which means a power/touch ID button on the top. 😳
 
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I’m curious to see how they handle stereo sound output. Hopefully there’s another speaker grill at the top.

I’m honestly surprised we haven’t seen more passport style foldables racing to the market before Apple. I know Samsung is rumored to have one this summer. I would have thought some would be at MWC.
 
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