The MacRumors Show: We're Finally Getting a Foldable iPhone

[iMac The Knife]

I don't like it much either, because it drains the iPhone battery. But the thin Fold with large screen probably won't have stellar battery life either when used unfolded.

I can't speak for the battery life of the Apple Fold of course, since we don't really know a whole lot about it yet, but the foldables I have owned over the past two years can all get between 8-10 hours of screen on time, with at least 75% of that usage being the on the inner, larger display. Not to mention, outside of Samsung, Apple, and Google phones, you can charge most foldables from 0-100% in 35 to 40 minutes and some slab phones can charge from 0-100% in less time than that. To be honest, I don't understand the battery life fear so many people have. If you can't get through an entire day using any modern day smartphone, it's definitely time to touch some grass and ponder life's priorities.

 

[iMac The Knife]

For those of you concerned with battery life, this is a screen shot from my Oppo Find N5. This is based off of approximately 85% inner display usage, with around 1.5 hours on 5G using Android Auto, which are both battery drainers. For those of you who might say "well, what about being on 5G all the time. I don't know where you live if you have to be on 5G all the time, but you should definitely move because I live in a rural area outside of a big city, and I'm still on Wi-Fi about 95% of the time. I typically only have around 1-1.5 hours of screen time per day. This was for testing only. If you need more screen time than this in a day, it's time to put your phone down and live a little.

 

[klasma]

I can't speak for the battery life of the Apple Fold of course, since we don't really know a whole lot about it yet, but the foldables I have owned over the past two years can all get between 8-10 hours of screen on time, with at least 75% of that usage being the on the inner, larger display. Not to mention, outside of Samsung, Apple, and Google phones, you can charge most foldables from 0-100% in 35 to 40 minutes and some slab phones can charge from 0-100% in less time than that. To be honest, I don't understand the battery life fear so many people have. If you can't get through an entire day using any modern day smartphone, it's definitely time to touch some grass and ponder life's priorities.

For me it’s mostly when I’m traveling by train or bus, using the iPad or iPhone for reading, browsing, travel information etc. and to pass time. The changing cell coverage is a drain on the batteries in that situation, and the lower-budget trains don’t have power outlets at the seats. Another situation is on bike tours if you use the phone or tablet for navigation. I generally take a power brick with me as a backup in those situations.

 

[iMac The Knife]

For me it’s mostly when I’m traveling by train or bus, using the iPad or iPhone for reading, browsing, travel information etc. and to pass time. The changing cell coverage is a drain on the batteries in that situation, and the lower-budget trains don’t have power outlets at the seats. Another situation is on bike tours if you use the phone or tablet for navigation. I generally take a power brick with me as a backup in those situations.

See my post above.

 

[klasma]

See my post above.

Yeah, we’ll see. I usually run into trouble when I’m on cellular for the better part of a day.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Yeah, we’ll see. I usually run into trouble when I’m on cellular for the better part of a day.

Yeah, and that's with any phone really. Luckily, whether I travel by car, plane, or train, I always have Wi-Fi one way or another.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I'd rather upgrade my iPad mini AND get a 16e for a phone... and have no money left over.

FTFY 😜

 

[Jashar7]

Jobs famously stated, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

AVP, and now this…Tim Cook’s legacy.

Hopefully this soon-to-be failure will be the final straw for Cook and usher him into retirement.

Apple doesn’t do innovation any more. I can accept that the window for innovation in consumer devices may be mostly closed, but AVP and foldable phones are the antithesis of the spirit of Apple and reek of desperation.

You just saying stuff for the sake of saying… very sad.

 

[Jashar7]

I feel bad for the Apple engineers tasked with designing the hinge. We know Apple's history with their laptop and 2012 iMac hinges.

2012 vs 2025 is quite a different timeline.

 

[Gabebear]

I feel like a broken wheel repeating this, but no, it’s not really mini-sized, due to the different aspect ratio. It will also be significantly heavier.

Fold on the left, mini on the right:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/rumoured-iphone-fold-size-concept-drawing-and-renders.2456447/

I think you VERY much miss the point of the mini; People want a pocketable phone. Super large/long phones aren't pocketable, especially for women. Any dimension significantly over 5 inches makes it much more difficult to pocket a phone.

This new phone will supposedly be about 4.7inch x 3.3inch !!! That's way better than the old mini which was 5.18 x 2.53.

The Power of Pockets - Their History & Meaning Through the Years | Life Enrichment

Back to Life Enrichment and Engagement I have to admit, when I find a dress and it has pockets, while still fitting well and looks flattering, I do a

www.kendal.org

 

[klasma]

I think you VERY much miss the point of the mini; People want a pocketable phone. Super large/long phones aren't pocketable, especially for women. Any dimension significantly over 5 inches makes it much more difficult to pocket a phone.

I’m a mini user, and mini users want a lightweight phone they can use one-handed. The foldable is neither. Pocketability is also a factor, but if the phone is so heavy it pulls down my shorts, it doesn’t help.

 

[Gabebear]

I’m a mini user, and mini users want a lightweight phone they can use one-handed. The foldable is neither. Pocketability is also a factor, but if the phone is so heavy it pulls down my shorts, it doesn’t help.

The Samsung's latest foldable weight comes in just between a "normal" phone and the "large" phone. The foldable iPhone shouldn't be super heavy, Samsung's newest foldable is 52.5% heavier than the iPhone mini; heavier than the "standard" phone but lighter than most large screen phones.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs 7.58 oz.
• iPhone 13 mini weighs 4.97oz.
• Samsung Flagship phones
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 weighs 5.7oz.
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra weighs 7.69oz.
• Apple Flagship phones
  • iPhone 16 weighs 6oz.
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 8oz.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[klasma]

The Samsung's latest foldable weight comes in just between a "normal" phone and the "large" phone. The foldable iPhone shouldn't be super heavy, Samsung's newest foldable is 52.5% heavier than the iPhone mini.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs 7.58 oz.
• iPhone 13 mini weighs 4.97oz.
• Samsung Flagship phones
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 weighs 5.7oz.
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra weighs 7.69oz.
• Apple Flagship phones
  • iPhone 16 weighs 6oz.
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 8oz.

I already find the 13 mini borderline heavy (reference point being the SE). More than 50% heavier isn’t something I would want to use. I’m already balking at the 167g of the 16e, which currently is the least heavy iPhone option. Anything as heavy or heavier than the Pro is a no-go for me.

You can’t argue based on current iPhone weights, because that’s an important reason why I and other mini users still stick with the mini.

 

[SoldOnApple]

I want a phone that can survive the sauna, so I can read books in the sauna. Or a kindle that can handle the sauna, that would be even better.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

You could care less?

Even less than less! 😆

 

[Pbwallstreet]

Foldable phones are dumb: they absolutely suck folded because they are thicker and the design compromised given two slabs of metal and glass are sandwiched together. Classic issue: not as good as a straight smartphone or a straight tablet.

 

[stuartea]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we catch up on all of the latest rumors about Apple's first foldable iPhone amid a multitude of reports about the device and its launch firming up for next year.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

Apple's foray into foldable smartphones has been rumored for many years, but it looks like the rumors will finally come to fruition next year. Full-scale prototyping of the device reportedly began last month, Samsung has begun production on the OLED displays destined for the foldable, and it is now believed to be on track to reach launch alongside the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026.

The first foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, a unique hinge system, two rear cameras (wide and ultra wide), one front-facing camera, and a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID.

It is likely to be 4.5mm or so when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded. For comparison, the latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 4.2mm when unfolded, and 8.9mm when folded. It also features three rear cameras, instead of Apple's anticipated two.

However, Apple is apparently seeking to outdo Samsung with a "crease-free" display thanks to an innovative design that uses a metal plate to disperse and control the stress generated by bending the display. This would be an industry first.

It is expected to cost $1,800 to $2,000. Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999.99. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's roadmap for new Vision headsets and smart glasses over the next few years.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan M... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: We're Finally Getting a Foldable iPhone

TouchID? Would Apple really go back to using that on a new flagship product? I personally never want to go back to using a fingerprint sensor.

 

[Lioness~]

My options when my iPhone mini starts to feel old - nowhere near that now.
Foldable's are too big for me as a phone - I rather have iPad mini (s) separate.

- buy a small Samsung flip, before a big iPhone - just for calls
- buy the OpenAI device Sam and Joni work on. Might be great combo with a non-smart-phone
- I have Mac's and iPad mini's - I'm good with that.

Honestly Apple needs a new CEO.
Siri have no place anywhere on my devices - turned off everywhere.

As mentioned, I'm exited about the device Joni and Sam works on.
I use OpenAI today, it's very helpful and I really like it.

 

[Bazza1]

So even more of a phablet than their current offerings, and an awkward shape when used on-the-go - which is the whole point behind a pocketable device.
The there's the whole 'using an OS created for the 2007 iPod Touch - but now with AI that few want' thing to deal with.

 

[codewrangler]

I'm sorry...until Tim or Craig, etc. actually show me one, in a new product event video, I don't believe it...I just can't understand a compelling enough use case for it. I've never seen a foldable (Android) in the wild and I know no one that has one or wants one...I could be wrong, but I don't think so...

 

[Cape Dave]

I'm sorry...until Tim or Craig, etc. actually show me one, in a new product event video, I don't believe it...I just can't understand a compelling enough use case for it. I've never seen a foldable (Android) in the wild and I know no one that has one or wants one...I could be wrong, but I don't think so...

You are 100% correct. It is like they are "skating to where the puck ISN'T."

 

[christopherx]

Holding out for this and hopefully it’s decent given how long it has taken. I fully switched the flip 6 last year and the screen started clicking when I opened and closed it, the crease was so annoying as well. Was such a relief to get back to iPhone!

 

[stuartea]

I'm sorry...until Tim or Craig, etc. actually show me one, in a new product event video, I don't believe it...I just can't understand a compelling enough use case for it. I've never seen a foldable (Android) in the wild and I know no one that has one or wants one...I could be wrong, but I don't think so...

My brothers wife has one and loves it. It’s her second. She’s non technical but loves the extra screen size and isn’t bothered by the seam (which I hate). There are a lot of people out here who have and want them beyond your circle.