After years of speculation, Apple might—finally—be close to launching a foldable iPhone. Or something like it. There’s no official name yet (we’ll call it the iPhone Fold for now), and Apple hasn’t confirmed a thing. But the rumor mill just coughed up a fresh leak from Digital Chat Station, a known Weibo leaker with a decent track record. According to their latest post, the upcoming device could feature a 7.7-inch internal folding display, paired with a 5.5-inch external screen.
That’s… not small. But also not massive.
A different take on foldables
The dimensions suggest Apple’s foldable iPhone might be more compact than the current crop of book-style foldables from Android brands. Think less like the Galaxy Z Fold5, more like a well-optimized hybrid between a phone and a tablet—without trying too hard to be either.
The 5.5-inch cover display hints at easier one-handed use, maybe even more so than some non-folding phones today. That alone could become a key selling point. Apple being Apple, usability will almost certainly take precedence over screen size bragging rights. Smaller, yes—but possibly smarter.
And that aspect ratio? It might look unusual at first glance. Android foldables often stretch tall and narrow; this one, reportedly, won’t. That could signal a different UX philosophy—less vertical scrolling, more balance between media, typing, and multitasking. It’s speculative, sure. But it tracks.
Why the wait?
Here’s where things get interesting. One persistent rumor has been Apple’s insistence on avoiding the dreaded crease. That vertical scar in the middle of most foldables? Apple wanted none of it, or at least something significantly less visible. That may be the main reason it took Apple this long to jump in.
According to leaks, Samsung Display has finally met Apple’s demands for a near-creaseless panel—something it hasn’t even delivered for its own devices yet, not fully. That part remains unclear. Maybe it’s wishful thinking. Maybe it’s real progress. Hard to say.
Also, let’s not forget: leaks are not plans. Even reliable leakers can be fed outdated or deliberately misleading info. The prototype stage is tricky—what’s true today might be scrapped tomorrow. Still, the buzz around a 2026 release is growing louder, and at least a couple sources have mentioned that functioning prototypes already exist. Under-display camera? Maybe. Some whispers suggest it. But again, early tech like that tends to be flaky or underwhelming. Apple might skip it entirely—or surprise us.
So what does this mean?
If all this pans out—and that’s a big “if”—we’re looking at an Apple foldable that’s more pocketable, possibly more refined, and maybe less interested in pushing specs than in rethinking the form factor. Will it be revolutionary? Possibly not. But it could feel like something only Apple would release: focused, polished, and late—but for reasons that might actually make sense.
Time will tell.
