What is going to the folding iPhone seem like? How will it fold?
- E book-like design with a vertical fold rumored
- Meant to be an iPhone/iPad hybrid
Apple’s rumored iPhone Extremely is reportedly nearing mass manufacturing, with its design largely finalized. Right here’s what present leaks counsel about how the foldable iPhone will look and the way the hinge and show may match.
E book-style, iPad hybrid, design
A number of leaks level to a book-style foldable with a big, tablet-like inner show, fairly than a compact flip-phone design. The gadget is predicted to operate as a hybrid between an iPhone and an iPad.
This “passport-style” design will seem noticeably squarer than a conventional iPhone when closed. When unfolded, it’s rumored to resemble an iPad mini-like display with a 4:3 facet ratio, providing a extra expansive viewing expertise.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in 2025 that Apple’s foldable will undertake a dual-display setup, with a powerful give attention to reaching a close to crease-free display when opened.
Different 2025 leaks, together with stories from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, additionally level to a vertical, book-style fold the place the left and proper sides shut collectively – just like gadgets just like the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
Dummy fashions shared by Sonny Dickson on X in April 2026, reveal this book-like kind issue.
Sonny Dickson
Extra dummy unit pictures from tech YouTuber Vadim Yuryev, additional reinforce this extensive, book-like “passport” design.
In December 2025, this 3D picture of the iPhone Extremely, based mostly on leaked CAD information, was created by a hobbyist and shared on MakerWorld (now eliminated), additionally aligning with these design expectations.
Nonetheless, different ideas have existed. In 2024, The Info reported that Apple had explored clamshell-style prototypes, the place the gadget folds top-to-bottom, just like conventional flip telephones.
This design course could already be influencing rivals. Our colleagues on TechAdvisor report that Samsung is creating a “Galaxy Z Fold 8 Large” with an identical 4:3 facet ratio, doubtlessly positioning it as a direct rival to Apple’s anticipated September 2026 launch.
How Apple is overcoming hinge design and crease discount challenges
Including a hinge to an iPhone introduces important engineering challenges that Apple has spent years making an attempt to resolve. Whereas rivals have launched a number of generations of foldables, Apple’s slower entry to the market is broadly attributed to its give attention to refining the hinge and delivering a extra seamless consumer expertise.
The most important technical problem is the seen and tactile crease the place the display folds. Apple has reportedly made this a precedence, aiming to minimise it to the purpose of being almost imperceptible.
Weibo leaker Prompt Digital claims the iPhone Extremely’s inner design will make it the most repairable folding cellphone in the marketplace, with elegant modular and stacked parts that decrease interconnects and ribbons.
Consequently, the hinge is predicted to be a defining characteristic of the iPhone Extremely, combining superior supplies and engineering to ship a smoother, extra sturdy folding expertise.
To keep up each thinness and sturdiness, Apple is reportedly testing high-end supplies for the hinge:
- Titanium alloy (rumored for structural energy)
- LiquidMetal, in response to Ming-Chi Kuo (March 2025), for improved sturdiness, higher display flatness, and diminished creasing.
In July 2025, Kuo reported that Apple had developed a way to cut back crease visibility utilizing steel assist plates to higher distribute and management bending stress. Apple could use this “laser-drilling steel plate expertise” fairly than standard etching to create a extra exact microstructure.
Apple additionally holds a number of patents for foldable mechanisms which, together with a number of rumored applied sciences, could also be used:
- Variable Thickness Glass: A key a part of Apple’s method is claimed to contain variable thickness show glass, which is thinner on the fold level to cut back stress throughout repeated use. That is anticipated to work alongside an optically clear adhesive layer, designed to additional minimise pressure and assist forestall the seen crease that generally develops in foldable gadgets over time.
- Stress-Lowering Adhesive: An optically clear adhesive designed to cut back pressure on the show throughout folding.
- Extremely-Skinny Profile: Anticipated thickness of round 4.5mm unfolded and 9.5mm folded.
- Inside Help: Metallic plates beneath the show to keep up a totally flat floor when opened.
In March 2026, stories prompt that Samsung Show – Apple’s major display provider – has developed a near-creaseless OLED panel, showcased at CES 2026 particularly to fulfill Apple’s requirements.
