TL; DR
- Latest leaks detail Apple’s debut foldable iPhone with a ~7.8-inch inner display at near-4:3 aspect ratio and a compact 5.5-inch outer screen.
- The squat, passport-like form factor closely echoes Google’s 2023 original Pixel Fold, with tablet-style usability when unfolded.
- The foldable iPhone is expected for a fall 2026 launch; and Apple is pushing for minimal crease and under-display camera technology this time.
As we move into the final days of 2025, leaks around Apple’s first foldable iPhone are starting to line up, and the design direction is becoming clear. What stands out most is how closely it mirrors a device many people seem to have forgotten. Apple’s foldable looks heavily inspired by the Google Pixel Fold.
Recent CAD renders and supply chain reports point to a book-style foldable with an inner display measuring roughly 7.76 to 7.8 inches diagonally. The reported resolution, around 2713 x 1920, lands very close to a 4:3 aspect ratio. When folded, the outer display is said to measure about 5.49 to 5.5 inches, resulting in a short and wide form factor. It feels more like a passport than the tall, narrow slabs that dominate today’s foldable market.
That layout should sound familiar. Google’s original Pixel Fold launched with a wide 5.8-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display with a 6:5 ratio, only slightly taller than 4:3. Google designed it that way to make the inner screen feel like a real tablet rather than a stretched phone. Apple now appears to be taking the same route.
This choice makes a lot of sense for Apple. A near-4:3 inner display lines up perfectly with iPad app layouts. When unfolded, the experience is expected to feel closer to a compact iPad mini than a blown-up phone. Apps designed for iPadOS should translate naturally, especially for reading, split-screen multitasking, and content creation.
ALSO READ: Samsung Rushes “Wide Fold” Variant to Counter Apple’s Foldable Entry
Leaks also suggest Apple is pushing hard on hardware refinement. The inner screen is said to use advanced ultra-thin glass to make the crease nearly invisible. An under-display camera is expected on the inner panel, keeping the tablet view clean and uninterrupted. Thickness is another focus, with reports pointing to around 4.8 mm when unfolded, which would put it among the slimmer foldables on the market.
The timing is also becoming clearer. Current information points to a September 2026 launch alongside the iPhone 18 series. That gives Apple plenty of time to polish both hardware and software before entering the foldable space.
For years, taller designs like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold line have defined what a foldable phone looks like. Apple choosing a wider approach, especially one inspired by a design Google later moved away from, could change how people think about foldables.
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