Apple could follow iPhone Fold with a flip-style model

[DragonSlayer101]

Something to look forward to: Apple is widely expected to launch its first foldable iPhone later this year, but a new report now claims that it might not be the only folding smartphone the company is currently working on. According to a reliable tipster, Cupertino is also developing a clamshell-style iPhone, similar to the Galaxy Z Flip devices.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that the book-style foldable is on track to be released in the second half of this year. He also claimed that the clamshell device will likely be the second foldable in the company's portfolio.

According to Gurman, Apple is betting that the so-called iPhone Fold will be a commercial success, taking the folding form factor mainstream - something Android vendors like Samsung, OnePlus, and Google have failed to do. Once people get used to folding smartphones, Apple believes they will warm up to other form factors, including smaller flip-style devices.

It is worth noting that Apple has yet to confirm plans about a clamshell-style foldable, so despite Gurman's stellar track record, the rumors should be taken with a pinch of salt. Gurman even noted that the "iPhone Flip" is technically still under development and there's no guarantee it will be launched commercially.

Apart from the flip-style foldable, Apple is said to be working on another book-style folding device with a larger footprint than the first-gen iPhone Fold. Gurman did not reveal any technical details about the device, nor did he say when it will make its way to the market. However, he noted that it will be the company's flagship iPhone at launch, sitting just above the original iPhone Fold.

Multiple leaks over the past few weeks have seemingly revealed some of the key specifications of Apple's upcoming folding smartphone. The device is said to feature a 7.58-inch internal display with an under-screen front-facing camera and a 5.25-inch external display with a punch-hole camera. It will reportedly be powered by the A20 Pro chipset.

Apple is also rumored to be working on a folding iPad, but the company is said to have encountered major engineering challenges that could potentially delay its debut until 2029. According to an earlier report by Gurman, the device's fate will depend on whether Apple keeps its weight and cost in check and still come up with a design that proves both functional and durable.

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Apple could follow iPhone Fold with a flip-style model

 

[Rapob]

Tried 3 different Samsung flip/fold phones. Absolute jokes. So thick, with a line across the screen where it bends.

Apple might nail it tho. We will see.

Doubt I will ever get a foldable phone. I don't see the point, at all.

 

[Billybobjoey]

The "flip" style foldable has never made a whole lot of sense to me. At least with the "fold" you're getting a much larger screen size for the extra bulkiness. With the "flip", while yes it is shorter when closed, it is now considerably thicker, comparable to the size of a wallet. I usually have my phone and wallet in the same pocket, and I for sure wouldn't be able to do that with one of those.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

A folding phone only makes sense for people that spend way too much time on their phones.

Or the people that use their phone instead of a laptop (a sadly growing number).

 

[Anton Longshot]

But...WHY?
If I wanted (but I don't...) a large screen while out there I'd stuff my iPad into a baggy.
It doesn't have to fit into my coat or pants pocket(s).
And my iPad has a gorgeous screen without a crease...
Probably a lot cheaper than a folding phone too.

But maybe I'm stupid and just don't get it. I'll happily live with that.

 

[Kashim]

Tried 3 different Samsung flip/fold phones. Absolute jokes. So thick, with a line across the screen where it bends.

Apple might nail it tho. We will see.

Why do people always think like this? Apple will nail it. Yeah, right. Did they nail it with their overpriced VR headset that everyone thought will kill the competition? No.

Apple's MO is always the same: When a new trend comes along, they wait several years to see what the other players do. Then they basically copy what the other companies did, improve on it slightly, charge hundreds of dollars extra compared to the competition, and then pretend they invented the whole thing. You know, like they've done with every single product they've ever produced.

PS. - Apple's foldables will have all the same problems Samsung is having, it will just cost more.

 

[p51d007]

A folding phone only makes sense for people that spend way too much time on their phones.

Or the people that use their phone instead of a laptop (a sadly growing number).

Folding phones, with their EASILY to scratch screens, are nothing more than another "status" symbol.
Oh, look at me...I'm cool because I have a folding phone. Just like all the people that run around in those huge pickup trucks, SUV's and what not. It's nothing more than a trendy status symbol.
Hey, if that's what you want to waste your money on, go for it. I just don't see it, given how much they over charge for a screen that is easy to scratch/damage with a CREASE down the middle.
Coworker has one. Got the 7 fold when it was released. In a protective case, but shoves it in his back pocket. One morning the fold screen just died. And it's an 800 dollar replacement cost.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Why do people always think like this? Apple will nail it. Yeah, right. Did they nail it with their overpriced VR headset that everyone thought will kill the competition? No.

Apple's MO is always the same: When a new trend comes along, they wait several years to see what the other players do. Then they basically copy what the other companies did, improve on it slightly, charge hundreds of dollars extra compared to the competition, and then pretend they invented the whole thing. You know, like they've done with every single product they've ever produced.

PS. - Apple's foldables will have all the same problems Samsung is having, it will just cost more.

This is such a tired take. Apple doesn’t try to be first, they try to be finished. That’s been their strategy for over two decades and it’s worked pretty well for them.

The Vision Pro wasn’t meant to kill anything or be a mass market VR headset. It’s a developer platform and a tech demo, priced exactly like one. Apple Watch, AirPods, tablets, and even the iPhone all got the same “overpriced, late, pointless” criticism at launch. History didn’t age those takes well.

And yes, Apple iterates on existing ideas. So does every successful tech company. The difference is ecosystem integration, software polish, and long term support, which is what people are actually paying for.

As for foldables, maybe they’ll have similar challenges, maybe not. Pretending Apple hasn’t solved problems others struggled with before, or that Samsung’s early issues define the entire category forever, is just lazy thinking.

You don’t have to like Apple, but “they just copy and charge more” ignores reality at this point.