Perfect size I think, it will be pretty thick so making it more compact in other dimensions will work well I think. So long as it does not compromise on battery life. Reminds of the first Pixel Fold they made which I thought was a great aspect ratio.
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Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected
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I like the idea of a rectangler inner display. However, this is a folding phone, not a folding tablet. This thing will be a pain in the ass to hold and talk on being that wide when it’s folded.
ConfusedChris
macrumors 6502
Yeah, at some point they have to figure out how to fit zoom cameras on thin devices. Even if on a chunky plateau at first.
I really think this is the way to go. One of my gripes with the likes of Z Fold 7 is that the big display is really better than a big slab phone when watching YouTube and the browser actually shows less content on most sites than a slab phone.
I just hope they launch it in 2026 because otherwise me staying on iOS have been for nothing.
I just hope they launch it in 2026 because otherwise me staying on iOS have been for nothing.
ipedro
macrumors 604
Do you expect to use an iPad one handed? They’re going for a compact phone when folded, easily pocketed and used one handed that unfolds into an iPad like experience. Seriously the best of both worlds. I’m in!
I feel like that may be what doomed the Air. Some of the tradeoffs might have been tolerable, but downgrading the cameras from even the regular 17 was a step too far.
ipedro
macrumors 604
A passport fits in a pocket. In fact, that universal passport size and dimension ratio was deliberately designed to fit in a pocket.
HouseLannister
macrumors 68040
They said "unopened." It's too wide as a phone. If you have short fingers, you can't use this comfortably.
C7 POWER
macrumors 68020
I personally hope this rumor is not accurate at all. The outer display being that small would be ridiculous and at that price range it needs to compete the with Samsung Fold. 5.3 inch outer display would be way to small. I for the first time looked at the Galaxy Fold 7 this past weekend and was truly impressed and was hopeful that was the design Apple would do as I have been holding out for a Foldable iPhone but as the rumors get refined closer to this summer, if this is the expected design I may for the first time leave Apple and go to the Fold 8 coming out this summer. The form factor of the fold 7 is incredible.
joshwithachance
macrumors 68030
If true that wider outer display is going to be AMAZING for typing, but AWFUL for general one-handed usage. And the fact that everything mobile is now formatted for taller and narrower displays, that could bring quite a few issues when it comes to app scaling and how little information you can see at a time vs the 19.5:9 in standard iPhones (and most smartphones); unless they go full on iPad mini on BOTH displays... I guess we'll have to wait and see how Apple decides to pair the software experience with this rather odd aspect ratio.
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What do you find incredible about the fold 7 form factor? It’s a skinny phone when folded and unfolded it only really shows more content when multitasking or reading books, for video it will not actually show that much more content than a slab phone and web browsing actually shows less on many pages (only bigger).
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thejadedmonkey
macrumors G3
I mean, everything that you're saying sounds absolutely perfect for a mini owner to upgrade to. Small screen, probably great battery life if I only ever use the outer screen, nice and heavy in my hand? Thick enough to hold? And TouchID to boot? Apple may have finally figured out how to part me from $2000 for a simple phone.
There isn't any book-style foldable form factor that's going to satisfy all needs perfectly. It's always going to be a compromise either in the folded or unfolded mode, or both. How much time is spent using the phone open vs. closed? I have no idea, and I suspect most users will have no idea until they actually own the thing. And usage patterns from existing phones may not apply to this different form factor.
I think I like this approach, if for no other reason than it's not just the same old thing everyone else is making, and it should be much better than existing foldables for video content. I don't think anyone can really predict what it's going to be like to use in the folded state.
I think I like this approach, if for no other reason than it's not just the same old thing everyone else is making, and it should be much better than existing foldables for video content. I don't think anyone can really predict what it's going to be like to use in the folded state.
Mitthrawnuruodo
Moderator emeritus
^^ Exactly this.
My 15 pro will probably be due for an upgrade come fall, and I'll - in all likelihood - go for the best camera option (that's not a Max sized phone).
deuxani
macrumors 6502a
Dear MacRumors, do you read your own forum? Since May 2025 this has been pretty clear and iZac already made some amazing renders back then in this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/rumoured-iphone-fold-size-concept-drawing-and-renders.2456447/
His renders have been going viral now and sites are even reporting them as leaked CAD files.
Also other users have 3D printed models based of these months ago. So, you have your own forum full of information which is completely ignored, but when someone on X posts a paper printout based on this information it gets posted to the homepage. That's very difficult to understand...
The side by side comparison with the Pro Max kind of makes me think it's not worth it. It's still so wide, and opened up it's really not that much bigger than the Pro Max anyway.
Fugly. The only way iPhone fold will be functional and will be a hit is to make it a trifold.
My guess is the aspect ratio is going to be the square root of 2 (1 : 1.1414...). It's the same aspect ratio used on A4/A5 paper around the world. This aspect ratio allows for the two screens to have the exact same proportions/aspect ratios (the inside screen just needs to be turned 90 degrees sideways). This would allow whatever you are looking at on the front screen to keep those proportions and be unchanged when you open the phone. I also think the reason they are so fixated on the crease is that they want you to be able to use the phone sideways when opened.
The dimensions of the inner screen is 160.0 x 113.9mm which is 1 : 1.1413...
A4 ratio video
The dimensions of the inner screen is 160.0 x 113.9mm which is 1 : 1.1413...
A4 ratio video
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Judging by the rumours of a 7.76” display which seems to be the most common one the foldable would have a 54% larger video area than the 17 Pro Max when watching 16:9 content (which YouTube mostly is). I would say that is quite a bit bigger to be honest.
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Apple are clearly going in the right direction! Now make it narrower, and then do away with the folding bit, and we will have the phone we have ALL been waiting for .... an iPhone 18 Mini !!! Go Apple!
SilentSpecter
macrumors member
But you’re ignoring the fact that it is not a small screen, at all.
The actual screen area will likely be closer to a 17Pro than a 12 Mini.
And the weight Similar to a Pro Max.
It's like saying the iPad Mini and the iPhone 17 Pro Max are only 1.4 inches different, technically correct only if you are measuring the Diagonal corner to corner screen, but in terms of actual screen area the iPad Mini is significantly bigger with almost double the amount of usable screen area.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
I have to say ... as an iPhone Mini & iPad Mini user, this looks pretty great to me!
(if a Fold were in my future. I have no idea until I see what the actual offering ends up being)
(if a Fold were in my future. I have no idea until I see what the actual offering ends up being)