Next year’s flagship iPhone is widely expected to be a folding phone branded as the iPhone Fold. With a great deal of consistency across leaks and other reports, we do now have a pretty good idea of what to expect.
The latest post by a Chinese leaker with a pretty decent track record differs from previous ones in a few small respects, but the fundamental elements remain the same …
A book-style fold
There are two different formats for a folding phone. One, often dubbed the flip, is where a conventional-sized phone folds vertically in half to a more compact square for pocketability. The other is where a conventional-sized but thicker phone unfolds horizontally into a wider display, much like a book.
What we’re expecting from Apple is a book-style fold with the unfolded display approximating the size of an iPad mini.
An outer display of around 5.25 to 5.5 inches
As is usual with folding phones, we’re expecting an outer display to provide similar functionality to existing iPhones when the phone is closed, and of course a significantly larger internal display once the device is unfolded.
Estimates of the respective display sizes have varied, with 5.5 inches commonly suggested for the exterior display. The latest report from leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS) suggests it will be slightly smaller at 5.25 inches.
Punch-hole camera in the outer display
Selfie cameras will be required in both external and internal displays. DCS says Apple will use a punch-hole camera in the outer display. Instead of the Dynamic Island, there will be a single round hole for the camera.
An inner display in the 7.6 to 7.8 inch range
Previous reports have suggested that the interior display will be around 7.8 inches, whilst the latest report again suggests something slightly smaller at 7.58 inches.
For comparison, the current iPad mini display size is 8.3 inches.
Under-display camera in the inner screen
The same report suggests that Apple will use an under-display camera for the larger inner screen. The same technology is expected to be used in the 20th anniversary camera.
This technology is possible today, but does involve some compromises, as we recently discussed. Our poll suggests that the majority of 9to5Mac readers would be okay with this.
Touch ID in the side button
It would be expensive to implement Face ID on the iPhone Fold as the company would potentially need two separate modules for interior and exterior displays.
For that reason, we’re expecting Apple to use Touch ID embedded into the side button.
A strong hinge and creaseless display
The two biggest weaknesses of most folding smartphones to date have been a hinge that is subject to failure after repeated opening and closing, and a very visible crease in the centre of the unfolded display.
One of the reasons Apple is believed to have waited so long before launching its own folding phone is that the company was reportedly not happy with a noticeable crease. It’s been reported that the Cupertino company rejected multiple samples provided by display partner Samsung before getting its own designers heavily involved in both the panel and the fold mechanism.
We’re expecting to see a barely-visible crease in the center of the screen and a very robust hinge mechanism.
Rear cameras still an unknown quantity
One thing we haven’t heard much about is the rear camera arrangement. The iPhone Pro models have a main camera, telephoto, and wide-angle camera, and it might be expected that an even more expensive premium camera would have all three of these.
However, it’s also possible that the extremely high manufacturing cost and likely retail price of the iPhone Fold might lead Apple to compromise here. The company already demonstrated a willingness to do this with the single rear camera of the iPhone Air.
A price in the $2000-2500 range
We’ve seen a range of different potential prices suggested from $1,800 at the low end to $2,500 at the high end. The consensus view appears to be somewhere in the $2,000 to $2,500 range.
This would make the device about twice as expensive as an iPhone Pro, which could be an even tougher sell given that people tend to upgrade their phone more frequently than other Apple devices like the iPad and MacBook.
Despite this, some analysts are extremely optimistic about potential sales.
Will you buy one?
Around 100 pre-production models are believed to exist at present, but we’re still a long way away from launch.
Given everything we’re expecting, how likely are you to buy an iPhone Fold? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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