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| The Apple iPhone Fold might be very short but also very wide in terms of dimensions |
For years, the foldable phone market has followed a familiar blueprint: a tall, narrow cover screen that turns into a tablet-like interior display. But if the latest swirl of rumors is to be believed, Apple is preparing to fold the rulebook in half. The long-anticipated Apple iPhone Fold is now taking tangible shape in the rumor mill, and its design might be far more unconventional than anyone expected.
While Samsung’s popular Galaxy Z Fold series (like the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7, available from $1,599 on Amazon) aims to be a full-sized smartphone when closed, Apple’s approach appears radically different. Insiders and analysts suggest the iPhone Fold will sport a surprisingly compact secondary display—reportedly around 5.3 inches—with a stubbier, boxier 3:2 aspect ratio.
From Rumor to (3D-Printed) Reality
To visualize what this could mean in the hand, prolific leaker and designer Ben Geskin has brought the concept to life. Using the rumored specifications, he created a detailed, 3D-printed dummy model that offers our best look yet at Apple’s potential vision for a foldable.
Geskin shared the images on his social media account, providing crucial context by placing the iPhone Fold dummy next to an iPhone 17 Pro Max model. The difference is striking. When folded, the rumored iPhone Fold is noticeably shorter but slightly wider than Apple’s current flagship slab phone. This unique footprint challenges the prevailing "phone-to-tablet" ethos of modern foldables.
Hand-on with a mockup. I actually like this. pic.twitter.com/iGJWvEB8s3
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) December 18, 2025
The One-Handed Test: A New Kind of Challenge
This unconventional shape immediately raises questions about usability. Judging from Geskin’s side-by-side images, the shorter height could make the top of the cover screen harder to reach with a thumb during one-handed use. It suggests Apple may be prioritizing a more pocketable, perhaps even nostalgic, form factor when closed—reminiscent of earlier, chunkier iPhone designs—over the seamless one-handed operation of a modern smartphone.
Once unfolded, however, the device transforms. The interior display is rumored to measure 7.7 inches, offering a substantial canvas that dwarfs the screen real estate of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the comparison. Thanks to that distinct aspect ratio, the usable space is said to feel even larger than the raw diagonal measurement implies. The trade-off is clear: you’ll almost certainly need both hands to comfortably use the device in its tablet mode.
How It Stacks Up Against the Foldable Competition
This rumored design places the iPhone Fold in a category of its own. The closest existing competitor in spirit might be the Oppo Find N2, with its relatively compact 5.54-inch 18:9 cover screen. However, the Find N2’s 7.1-inch main display would still be smaller than the iPhone Fold’s speculated 7.7-inch panel.
On the other end of the spectrum, devices like the Oppo Find N5 (with a 6.62-inch tall cover screen and an 8.12-inch interior) represent the current foldable standard. Next to the iPhone Fold dummy, they would appear downright gigantic. Apple seems to be carving out a middle path: more substantial than a mini tablet when open, but uniquely compact and distinct when closed.
The Long Wait for an Official Unveiling
As with all Apple rumors, a heavy dose of caution is advised. The current consensus among analysts points toward a potential September 2026 unveiling for the iPhone Fold. That timeline leaves Apple ample room to iterate, refine, or even completely reimagine the design based on supply chain developments and user feedback from the evolving foldable market.
One thing is certain: if these rumors hold, Apple isn’t just entering the foldable race—it’s attempting to redefine the track. By potentially sacrificing some one-handed convenience for a bold, distinctive form, the iPhone Fold could be the most opinionated Apple product in years, challenging our very idea of what a folding phone should be. The tech world will be watching, and waiting, to see if that gamble unfolds into a success.
Comparison with the OPPO Find N2 (5.54-inch cover display, 7.1-inch main display) pic.twitter.com/c1oIPc3QfE
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) December 19, 2025