The iPhone Fold is still months away, but Apple is already sketching out what comes next. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is exploring a second foldable that would follow Samsung and Motorola’s playbook: a compact, clamshell-style device similar to the Galaxy Z Flip.
This marks a shift. Earlier plans centered on a folding iPad, but that project reportedly hit roadblocks. Now Apple seems more interested in proving foldables can work as phones before branching out.
A clamshell iPhone would flip vertically, folding into a square when closed. It’s the opposite of the rumored iPhone Fold, which opens sideways like a book and prioritizes screen real estate over pocketability.
Gurman warns this isn’t a done deal. Apple’s betting heavily on the iPhone Fold’s reception first. If it underperforms, the company might pivot toward a more traditional book-style foldable instead, one that mirrors the Galaxy Z Fold’s form factor rather than trying something experimental.
Either scenario feels reactive. Apple has historically avoided being first to new categories, but foldables have been around long enough that playing catch-up looks less like patience and more like hedging.
The iPhone Fold is expected to feature a 6.5-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen. Its wider aspect ratio sets it apart from competitors, designed to feel more like holding a passport than a folded tablet.
Apple’s A18 chip will power it, and the camera setup may be stripped back to just two lenses to keep the device thin. Those specs could change before production ramps up, but the intent is clear: make it usable, not just novel.
