Apple will unveil a $29 Ziploc bag accessory to help keep the dust out.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You must have some excessively large dust in your pockets you should have looked at. All folding devices have a bezel overlapping the edge of the screen. So it never touches or rubs on itself.
Could you make some with the iPhone Mini? Like both models side by side in their entire forms? Because the render device alone is hard to imagine without that context. Thanks!!! (Maybe with an iPhone Pro Max as well?)
The dream 'all-in-one' Apple device I've been waiting years for. A phone for everything a phone does, then if you want to read a book, epaper, full-size web pages, watch content on a bigger screen, etc simply unfold it (no need for a separate iPad), and if you want to work on documents or write a Word doc, simply attach to a keyboard (Apple or Logitech WILL come up with a keyboard for this) and thusly no need for a Macbook (most of the time). The Apple Pencil will also work with it, of course. Take my money. Bring it on.
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things.
These are just the current rumors, and in the years before a device actually launches, information can be all over the place due to Apple's experimentation. The details we're hearing are starting to firm up, but there could be changes before it comes out. And given Apple's track record lately, it might never be released.
- Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple wants to get away from the pesky crease that impacts most foldable smartphones on the market. Apple is aiming for an entirely creaseless look so you won't be distracted by a visible line going through the middle of the display.
- It'll open like a book. Based on the myriad rumors we've heard, Apple experimented with multiple designs. There was talk last year that Apple would go with a clamshell design that opens top to bottom, like the Galaxy Z Flip. That's possibly something we'll see in the future, but now it's sounding like Apple's first foldable iPhone will have the book-like design we've seen in foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold. iOS isn't designed for a horizontal orientation, so this is going to require some major software updates. Apple is rumored to be working to redesign iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 to be more consistent cross-platform, and that kind of design would work well when you need an operating system that works seamlessly in both vertical and horizontal orientations.
- For size, imagine the iPad mini. When it's closed, Apple's foldable iPhone is rumored to have a 5.5-inch outer display, which is smaller than current iPhone models that start at 6.1 inches. When opened, though, it will be 7.8 inches, which isn't too far off from the old 7.9-inch iPad mini. Picture the iPad mini in horizontal orientation, or put two 6.1-inch iPhones side by side to get an idea of how big the display might be.
- It's going to be thick and thin. Apple is going to use some iPhone 17 Air tech for the foldable iPhone, and it could be as thin as 4.8mm when it's opened up. That's even thinner than the 5.1-inch 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is Apple's thinnest device to date. When closed, though, it'll be somewhere around 9mm to 9.5mm, which is chunky.
- It might have Touch ID. This is a weird one, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple might use a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID. If Apple can't slim down that front-facing TrueDepth camera module enough to get the screen to an acceptable thinness, Touch ID could work instead.
- It's going to cost you. Foldable smartphones are far from cheap, even from Android manufacturers. Apple's version is going to be expensive, with rumors suggesting it will be priced somewhere around $2,000 to $2,500.
Right now, it looks like we could get the first foldable iPhone right around late 2026, so we might be hearing more in the coming months as we get into the 2026 iPhone rumor cycle.
Article Link: Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone
Unlike the AVP, a foldable iPhone is a mobile device that can travel with you anywhere and offers even greater versatility compared to a traditional slab phone. Although its sales volume may be lower due to its high price point, I would expect it to have very good profit margins, ensuring generations to come.
It looks awesome when opened. I am afraid the extra width when closed will make it impossible to securely hold it with one hand. The proportion reminds me of the Microsoft Duo 2.
I did and it left me both hopeful and skeptical. The article didn't mention which mini BTW but the 5 makes more sense because a folded 6 is less appealing to me when folded regardless of which way they fold it. The full UI redesign noted in point 2 will be important if Apple is going to prioritize a rectangular opened screen in a foldable because maximizing usability of the exterior display is going to require it. Timing wise the announcement of a full redesign for iOS 19 makes sense given the current state of rumors for the foldable iPhone. Right now I am more hopeful that they'll hold to a rectangular inner screen than I am skeptical, that's why I said "if." Up until now other manufacturers haven't made a foldable that ticks the boxes for me but this one might if its done right.
As someone who has used a foldable phone (specifically the Z Fold 5), I can attest that the experience is fundamentally different. The core appeal of a book-style foldable is having one device in your pocket at all times that instantly transforms into a larger screen when needed. This echoes the adage that the best camera is the one you actually have with you.
Using the Z Fold 5, it was incredibly convenient to unfold a larger screen whenever I wanted—at a coffee shop, during my lunch break at work, or simply relaxing on the sofa watching a game. I could simultaneously watch the game, follow a Reddit live stream, and browse the web, all without ever needing to reach for a separate iPad. It's this constant availability and flexibility in a single device that truly sets the foldable experience apart.
See - I just got settled doing some work and you go and lure me back in to faffing with iPhones.🥲
At least this just forced me to learn a bit more about cinematic cameras and the best way to screenshot in Unreal Engine (what I'm rendering in)
These shots are compared to a 15 pro max and a 12 mini. I didn't model these comparison phones, but I did check their overall dimensions to make sure they were the right size:
And again, disclaimer that this is my pure speculation extrapolated from the rumour mill!
Ok, lol, you're welcome to believe that. There's been lots of buzz and excellent reviews about several Android folds, especially some of the newer Chinese models, then they get released........and crickets. Those devices are fine, I doubt Apple does anything that "makes the market", the more likely scenario is they pull another AVP, overprice the thing and overestimate sales.
Nobody wants them on the Android side, they're not selling and they've got some quality products. The same "benefits" apply to their side. I'm extremely skeptical that Apple is going to have much more success when the product is going to grossly expensive AND a Gen 1 product.
Funny…..I just posted this in a iPhone 13 Mini thread. As a dedicated Mini user myself, carrying both the iPhone 13 Mini and the iPad Mini 7 wherever I go, I am quite looking forward to finally replacing both with the first folding iPhone in 2026. If the alleged specs hold true, we’re talking about a 5.4 inch screen on the outside and 7.8 inch screen on the inside, an almost perfect combination of iPhone 13 Mini and the iPad Mini 5. Yes, it will be heavier than just an iPhone 13 Mini, obviously, and quite expensive, but this is the exact solution I’ve been waiting for for years. Of course, just because I want one desperately doesn’t mean that it will be a hit anymore than the iPhone Minis were a hit. But I do think it will be a hit for the people that can afford it.
That’s why it should be 16x9 aspect ratio unfolded. Last I checked, any current iPhone has big black bars when watching movies now anyway. It’s still better than a normal device in YouTube also. You can have the video edge to edge while scrolling comments.
Looks phenomenal the aspect ratio. It reminds me the phone in the movie HER.
The only detail i think Apple will do differently is the corners. There is no way they will do different corners from left to right.
the phone from HER, yes! I remember I liked that it felt like a little notebook that he tucked into his shirt pocket.
I see what you mean by the asymmetric corners - squared corners by the hinge. It's another decision where I struggled. I committed to these relatively large radius corners (10mm) which just doesn't work with the hinge side, since there's nothing to protect the internal screen. (if you look at the MacRumours render, the internal screen is just flapping around in the air). So my decision was either make smaller radius' all-around the device or have them clearly different. One of the many compromises I made while thinking how to interpret these rumours
Samsung always wants to be first. 5 releases and their fold still has that ugly crease. Apple doesn’t care about being first, they want it perfect.
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things.
These are just the current rumors, and in the years before a device actually launches, information can be all over the place due to Apple's experimentation. The details we're hearing are starting to firm up, but there could be changes before it comes out. And given Apple's track record lately, it might never be released.
- Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple wants to get away from the pesky crease that impacts most foldable smartphones on the market. Apple is aiming for an entirely creaseless look so you won't be distracted by a visible line going through the middle of the display.
- It'll open like a book. Based on the myriad rumors we've heard, Apple experimented with multiple designs. There was talk last year that Apple would go with a clamshell design that opens top to bottom, like the Galaxy Z Flip. That's possibly something we'll see in the future, but now it's sounding like Apple's first foldable iPhone will have the book-like design we've seen in foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold. iOS isn't designed for a horizontal orientation, so this is going to require some major software updates. Apple is rumored to be working to redesign iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 to be more consistent cross-platform, and that kind of design would work well when you need an operating system that works seamlessly in both vertical and horizontal orientations.
- For size, imagine the iPad mini. When it's closed, Apple's foldable iPhone is rumored to have a 5.5-inch outer display, which is smaller than current iPhone models that start at 6.1 inches. When opened, though, it will be 7.8 inches, which isn't too far off from the old 7.9-inch iPad mini. Picture the iPad mini in horizontal orientation, or put two 6.1-inch iPhones side by side to get an idea of how big the display might be.
- It's going to be thick and thin. Apple is going to use some iPhone 17 Air tech for the foldable iPhone, and it could be as thin as 4.8mm when it's opened up. That's even thinner than the 5.1-inch 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is Apple's thinnest device to date. When closed, though, it'll be somewhere around 9mm to 9.5mm, which is chunky.
- It might have Touch ID. This is a weird one, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple might use a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID. If Apple can't slim down that front-facing TrueDepth camera module enough to get the screen to an acceptable thinness, Touch ID could work instead.
- It's going to cost you. Foldable smartphones are far from cheap, even from Android manufacturers. Apple's version is going to be expensive, with rumors suggesting it will be priced somewhere around $2,000 to $2,500.
Right now, it looks like we could get the first foldable iPhone right around late 2026, so we might be hearing more in the coming months as we get into the 2026 iPhone rumor cycle.
Article Link: Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone
I'm a big fan of consolidating devices, so something that'll replace my Mini would be welcome. But I carry my phone everywhere in my front pocket, so it remains to be seen if the thickness and durability will be a problem for me.
That said, I'd glad Apple is giving it a shot!
That said, I'd glad Apple is giving it a shot!
Yes and no. The hardware is that of a pocketable PC. The software leaves a lot to be desired if it is iOS or iPadOs.