What will the folding iPhone look like? How will it fold?
- Book-like design with a vertical fold rumored
- Intended to be an iPhone/iPad hybrid
Apple’s rumored iPhone Ultra is reportedly nearing mass production, with its design largely finalized. Here’s what current leaks suggest about how the foldable iPhone will look and how the hinge and display may work.
Book-style, iPad hybrid, design
Multiple leaks point to a book-style foldable with a large, tablet-like internal display, rather than a compact flip-phone design. The device is expected to function as a hybrid between an iPhone and an iPad.
This “passport-style” design will appear noticeably squarer than a traditional iPhone when closed. When unfolded, it’s rumored to resemble an iPad mini-like screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, offering a more expansive viewing experience.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in 2025 that Apple’s foldable will adopt a dual-display setup, with a strong focus on achieving a near crease-free screen when opened.
Other 2025 leaks, including reports from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, also point to a vertical, book-style fold where the left and right sides close together – similar to devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
Dummy models shared by Sonny Dickson on X in April 2026, demonstrate this book-like form factor.
Sonny Dickson
Additional dummy unit images from tech YouTuber Vadim Yuryev, further reinforce this wide, book-like “passport” design.
In December 2025, this 3D image of the iPhone Ultra, based on leaked CAD files, was created by a hobbyist and shared on MakerWorld (now removed), also aligning with these design expectations.
However, alternative concepts have existed. In 2024, The Information reported that Apple had explored clamshell-style prototypes, where the device folds top-to-bottom, similar to traditional flip phones.
This design direction may already be influencing competitors. Our colleagues on TechAdvisor report that Samsung is developing a “Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide” with a similar 4:3 aspect ratio, potentially positioning it as a direct rival to Apple’s anticipated September 2026 launch.
How Apple is overcoming hinge design and crease reduction challenges
Adding a hinge to an iPhone introduces significant engineering challenges that Apple has spent years trying to resolve. While competitors have released multiple generations of foldables, Apple’s slower entry to the market is widely attributed to its focus on refining the hinge and delivering a more seamless user experience.
The biggest technical challenge is the visible and tactile crease where the screen folds. Apple has reportedly made this a priority, aiming to minimise it to the point of being nearly imperceptible.
As a result, the hinge is expected to be a defining feature of the iPhone Ultra, combining advanced materials and engineering to deliver a smoother, more durable folding experience.
To maintain both thinness and durability, Apple is reportedly testing high-end materials for the hinge:
- Titanium alloy (rumored for structural strength)
- LiquidMetal, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (March 2025), for improved durability, better screen flatness, and reduced creasing.
In July 2025, Kuo reported that Apple had developed a method to reduce crease visibility using metal support plates to better distribute and control bending stress. Apple may use this “laser-drilling metal plate technology” rather than conventional etching to create a more precise microstructure.
Apple also holds several patents for foldable mechanisms which, along with several rumored technologies, may be used:
- Variable Thickness Glass: A key part of Apple’s approach is said to involve variable thickness display glass, which is thinner at the fold point to reduce stress during repeated use. This is expected to work alongside an optically clear adhesive layer, designed to further minimise strain and help prevent the visible crease that commonly develops in foldable devices over time.
- Stress-Reducing Adhesive: An optically clear adhesive designed to reduce strain on the display during folding.
- Ultra-Thin Profile: Expected thickness of around 4.5mm unfolded and 9.5mm folded.
- Internal Support: Metal plates beneath the display to maintain a completely flat surface when opened.
In March 2026, reports suggested that Samsung Display – Apple’s primary screen supplier – has developed a near-creaseless OLED panel, showcased at CES 2026 specifically to meet Apple’s standards.
