Apple is gearing up to enter the foldable smartphone market, with fresh leaks revealing details about its first iPhone Fold. As rivals like Samsung and Google continue refining their foldable devices, Apple is taking a different approach with a book-style foldable design that is expected to set new standards in the industry.
Recent leaks from Digital Chat Station (via Android Authority) suggest that Apple’s first foldable iPhone will feature a 5.49-inch cover display and a 7.74-inch inner screen. This makes it smaller than the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 but closer in size to the original Google Pixel Fold. Apple’s decision to go with a more compact design aligns with its long-standing philosophy of creating sleek, slim, and premium devices.
By opting for a book-shaped foldable, Apple ensures that its device stands out from the rest of the iPhone lineup. The new form factor could also introduce a Pro range model with high-end specifications, a premium price tag, and substantial profit margins.
Apple has always prioritized sleek and compact designs and the iPhone Fold appears to follow the same principle. Unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold, which many critics argue still resembles two stacked phones, Apple aims to create a shorter and more refined foldable.
One of the biggest challenges with foldable devices is thickness. Currently, Oppo’s Find N5 holds the title for the thinnest foldable phone at just 8.93mm—almost as slim as a USB-C port. Apple’s rumoured iPhone 17 Air technology could play a crucial role in ensuring that its foldable phone is one of the slimmest on the market.
Apple is working to improve two parts of making a foldable phone work — the hinge and the display technology — for the iPhone Fold. According to the reports, the company is working with Lens Technology to make ultra-thin glass which is pretty much a critical component of flexible displays.
However, Apple is also working toward blowing away the crease that resembles a foldable phone. While brands like Samsung and Oppo have reduced creases with each new generation no manufacturer has been able to wipe them completely. The industry may see the introduction of a virtually flawless foldable display pushed forward by Apple’s engineering efforts.
Entering into the circle of the foldable iPhone signals the new era of the iPhone. As the iPhone Fold comes equipped with its book-shaped looks, compact form factor, display and hinge advances, the phone will strike new heights in its industry. With Apple yet to announce an official launch date, leaks are continuing to suggest that Apple is now expectantly nearing the launch of its first flexible iPhone.