Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be Apple’s main foldable competition. Photographer: SeongJoon … [+] Cho/Bloomberg
As Samsung and Apple prepare to launch ultra-slim smartphones, the iPhone maker is also putting the pieces together for its first iPhone Fold.
The long-rumored flexible iPhone has taken on many shapes in the snippets of information that have emerged over the last couple of years. From a foldable iPad to a flip phone shape similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip line. But the latest leak, from Digital Chat Station (via Android Authority), suggests that Apple is working on a book-shaped device.
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The tipster says that the handset will have a 5.49-inch cover display, with a 7.74-inch inner screen. That is smaller than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (6.3-inches, 7.6-inches) but similar to the original Google Pixel Fold (5.8-inches, 7.6-inches), just slightly more squat.
iPhone Fold: Apple Style
Apple making one of its first foldable devices book-shaped makes sense because it’s the most starkly different shape to the rest of its lineup. It also gives the company an opportunity to release another device in the Pro range, which means higher specifications, a higher price and therefore higher margins.
The Cupertino-based company also making the iPhone Fold smaller than rivals is entirely expected. Slimmer and sleeker are design principles Apple chases. The problem with foldable phones, particularly book-shaped handsets, is that they’re obviously for tech enthusiasts. Samsung has done a very good job of refining the Galaxy Z Fold over six generations, but it still ultimately looks like two phones stacked together.
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I imagine Apple will try to offset that with a shorter, more compact design. Oppo’s new Find N5 holds the crown for the slimmest foldable right now at 8.93mm, which is almost as thin as a USB-C port. Perhaps some of Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air technology will find its way into making the slimmest foldable on the market.
The two other essential elements to making a foldable phone; the hinge and display technology, are also coming together for Apple. The company has reportedly tapped Lens Technology to manufacture its ultra-thin glass, which the foldable glass that is used in all flexible handsets. For the hinge, Apple has attempted to build an iPhone Fold without a visible crease when unfolded. The crease improves with every release from flexible device makers, but complete removal has eluded all manufacturers so far.
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