Contrary to previous rumours, this is now likely to compete with book-style phones such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold rather than attempting to replace the largest tablets and laptops available with a folding screen of well over 15 inches. Speaking of display sizes, a fresh story today mentions figures (or rather ranges) for the first time, putting the “iPhone Fold” in a somewhat unusual light.
One large screen and an unusually small cover display
Although it is probably still much too early to predict exactly how Apple’s first foldable attempt would appear, a main display of 7.6 to 7.9 inches might place it roughly on pace with the Z Fold 6 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold in that regard.
The Z Fold 6’s new competitor, created by Google, has an extra-large 8-inch folding screen and a nearly equal 6.3-inch cover display. Samsung’s newest and greatest book-style foldable, mind you, has a primary 7.6-inch panel and a 6.3-inch secondary display.
Curiously, Apple is projected to employ a secondary screen diagonal of 5.3 to 5.5 inches for its first foldable iPhone, which appears to be a potentially significant and difficult-to-justify compromise for a late entry into an already crowded and fiercely competitive field.
There aren’t many book-style foldables with such small cover displays on the market right now, and even the Google Pixel Fold, which was introduced in 2023, had a 5.8-inch secondary panel in addition to a 7.6-inch primary screen.
For what it’s worth, the first-generation iPhone Fold (whose name is obviously not yet set in stone) is rumoured to support a wider aspect ratio “compared to Samsung’s Z Fold” family, and with the help of undoubtedly ultra-advanced LTPO, CoE, and UTG technologies, Apple could easily offset that screen real estate disadvantage to provide an unrivalled overall user experience.
Unsurprisingly, Samsung is slated to handle all display production for the device, which is “80% confirmed” to hit the market in 2026, according to a prolific and increasingly credible social media leaker. Further down the line, the BOE may assume some of those tasks, at least if foldable iPhones take off as many analysts appear to predict.
What about Apple’s first foldable iPad?
The same X tipster and Meritz Securities, a financial services company, claim that a massive foldable iPad with a nearly 19-inch screen is also in the works, though it is unlikely to be delivered anytime soon.
The main reason for this is that Apple’s most recent (traditional) high-end iPad Pros with OLED screens aren’t selling as well as they had hoped. This is understandably causing the tech giant to worry that a foldable iPad with an 18.8-inch display and a suitably extravagant price point might not be well received by customers worldwide.
LG is probably going to supply the previously mentioned 18.8-inch foldable panel instead of Samsung or BOE, and when this potentially revolutionary gadget does make it to market, its first manufacturing levels are almost certainly going to be “limited.”
It’s unclear how restricted it is yet, but it’s definitely far less than the first-generation foldable iPhone, which is expected to debut in stores around the world in 15 to 20 million devices in the first year.
