The first working look at Apple’s foldable iPhone shows a screen the size of an iPad mini, a shift that could reshape how users interact with mobile video and games.
YouTuber Vadim Yuryev obtained dummy models of the upcoming device, expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in September. The metal mockups reveal a shorter, wider footprint than any previous iPhone, with an inner display measuring roughly 7.8 inches diagonally — matching the iPad mini’s screen. Yuryev noted the device feels particularly suited for gaming, citing the “claw grip” familiar to iPad mini users playing titles like Call of Duty with on-screen controls.
Apple’s move toward a wider, shorter form factor marks a departure from the tall, narrow designs that have dominated the foldable market since Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series debuted. The iPhone Fold’s rumored 4:3 aspect ratio aims to reduce letterboxing when watching 16:9 video, offering a 56.9% taller viewing area compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max while maintaining similar width. This echoes a broader industry shift: Huawei’s Pura X Max and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide both adopt wider screens, suggesting Apple’s influence is accelerating a trend toward widescreen foldables across Android.
Despite being years late to the foldable space — a pattern seen with the iPod and iPhone — Apple’s entry carries weight. The company did not invent the passport-style foldable; Google, Microsoft, and Oppo experimented with similar shapes earlier. But, Apple’s scale and brand attention are prompting rivals to accelerate their own wide-foldable roadmaps. Samsung, which has released seven generations of foldables, is only now changing its core design in the same year Apple enters the segment, despite user demand for widescreen models persisting for years.
For more on this story, see Apple Foldable iPhone: Production, Design, and Release Rumors.
Leaked details highlight key differences between Apple’s and Samsung’s approaches. The iPhone Fold is expected to feature rounded edges, volume buttons on the top frame, and a power/Touch ID combination on the right edge. It will run iOS 27 and include two rear cameras, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 retains sharper corners, runs Android, and is expected to carry three rear sensors. Both devices aim for an unfolded width under 5mm, continuing the push for ultra-thin form factors.
One potential advantage cited by analysts is pocketability: the iPhone Fold’s wider-but-shorter profile may fit more easily in standard pockets than taller foldables like the Z Fold 8. Still, concerns linger about battery life, with Forbes noting that Apple may lag behind rivals in endurance despite its design leadership. Global foldable shipments grew 14% year-over-year in Q3 2025, reaching a quarterly record, indicating the category is maturing beyond early adopters.
How does the iPhone Fold’s screen size compare to existing Apple devices?
The inner display is roughly the same size as an iPad mini’s 7.8-inch screen, making it significantly larger than any current iPhone when unfolded.
Why are Samsung and Huawei releasing wider foldables this year?
Both companies are responding to market pressure created by Apple’s anticipated entry, which has accelerated interest in widescreen foldable designs across the Android ecosystem.
Will the iPhone Fold have better battery life than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8?
Sources do not confirm battery specifications for either device, but Forbes suggests Apple may fall behind on endurance despite its design influence.