Apple appears to have settled on a book-style foldable iPhone with an outer display and camera for use when closed and a larger inner display when opened, according to multiple rumors and leaks. Reports describe a device that aims to minimize the visible crease, use advanced materials for the frame and hinge, and offer iPad-like screen space when unfolded.
Foldable iPhone design and displays
Rumors indicate the folded outer display will be about 5.5 inches, while the inner, unfolded display will measure roughly 7.6–7.8 inches, with one leaker specifying a 7.76-inch inner display at 2,713 × 1,920 and a 5.49-inch outer display at 2,088 × 1,422 with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Some sources round those figures to 7.6 inches unfolded; one analyst, Jeff Pu, has suggested Apple could be developing two foldable iPhones in 7.9-inch and 8.3-inch sizes, though that claim lacks broader corroboration.
Thickness rumors put the device at around 4.5 mm when open and 9–9.5 mm when closed; if 4.5 mm when open, it would be thinner than the current thinnest Apple device, the 13-inch iPad Pro at 5.1 mm, while some reports say it may be a few millimeters thicker than the 4.5 mm figure.
3D-printed mockups and dummy models have circulated that match these size claims and show a short, wide, book-like form factor with a raised camera bump that does not span the full back, a two-lens camera system, and a thin chassis. Dummy models reportedly do not show an Action Button or a MagSafe magnetic ring, and they lack a SIM slot, similar to the iPhone Air.
Minimizing the visible crease
Leaks and reports emphasize that Apple prioritized reducing the visible crease, reportedly pursuing that goal ‘regardless of cost.’ The 2026 foldable iPhone is said to have a crease described as ‘nearly invisible’ when unfolded. Leakers suggest a crease depth under 0.15 mm and a crease angle under 2.5 degrees, both metrics intended to make the fold line less noticeable to the eye and to the touch. Advances in optically clear adhesive (OCA)—formulations that stay pliable during bending and flow into microscopic irregularities—are credited with helping reduce light scattering and crease visibility.
Apple is reportedly planning to use ultra-thin glass, and Lens Technology is named as a likely primary glass supplier, with Corning supplying raw materials. Additional potential measures to minimize the crease include a structural glass mid-frame and a color filter-on-encapsulation layer combined with a circular polarizer module to improve color purity and light transmission.
Hinge, materials and display technology
Reports say Apple is considering a mixed titanium and aluminum frame, using titanium for stress-bearing parts to prevent bending and aluminum elsewhere for heat dissipation and lower weight. For the hinge, Apple is said to plan using liquid metal (amorphous metal) to improve durability; liquid metal is described as tougher than titanium alloy and more resistant to bending, deformation, and denting. Apple may also use combinations of titanium and stainless steel for hinge components.
Sources note Apple has encountered hinge reliability issues under prolonged, high-frequency opening and closing during testing, but these problems are not expected to affect launch timing. The foldable iPhone is also said to use a new type of display panel from Samsung produced via a custom process Apple has trademarked; that process reportedly integrates touch sensors into the panel and reduces overall thickness by approximately 19 percent, yielding a lighter and more rigid display that meets Apple’s targets for thinness, power efficiency, and brightness.
Cameras, MagSafe and accessories
The device is expected to retain a dual-lens camera system limited to wide and ultrawide lenses; early testers reportedly miss a telephoto lens. Although dummy models did not include a MagSafe magnetic ring, the foldable iPhone is expected to support MagSafe charging. Case leaks show a split-case design with a bar-shaped camera cutout for the dual cameras, a circular area for MagSafe magnets, and a cutout for a Camera Control button. Component leaks have also surfaced, including images of an alleged motherboard showing the CPU, hinge connector and flex cable connector.
Repairability, colors and early testing
A Chinese leaker described the foldable iPhone as designed for easier repairability than competing foldables, with a modular internal layout that avoids complex ribbon cable routing. Reportedly Apple placed the motherboard on the right side and routed volume-button cables upward to maximize internal space, using a stacked design that dedicates most space to the display and battery.
Color options are said to be conservative, favoring traditional space gray/black and silver/white finishes. One rumor characterizes the darker finish as an indigo shade similar to the iPhone 17 Pro’s Deep Blue, and another source suggests there might not be a true black option. A leaked image allegedly shows the lighter color option.
Early Apple testers of a device referred to as the foldable iPhone Ultra reportedly found the device pocketable when folded and praised the hinge durability and iPad-like app layouts on the larger display. Testers liked its performance as a camera viewfinder but noted the absence of a telephoto lens. Face ID reportedly will not be included, while Touch ID is said to make a return.
