Key Points:
- Apple is exploring a square, clamshell-style foldable iPhone design. The device would compete directly with the Galaxy Z Flip 7.
- Rumors suggest Apple’s first foldable phone could launch later in 2026.
- A larger, iPad-sized foldable device has likely been delayed until 2029.
- The clamshell model is currently just a concept and not guaranteed.
Apple seems ready to dive deeper into the world of bending screens. A new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests the tech giant is currently playing around with the idea of a “square, clamshell-style” foldable iPhone. While this specific device isn’t a sure thing just yet, it shows Apple is looking well beyond a single type of folding phone for its future lineup.
If Apple decides to move forward with this design, the smaller device would go toe-to-toe with established players like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola’s revamped Razr. The logic here is pretty straightforward: if consumers continue to buy the flip form factor, Apple wants a piece of that action.
This news comes with a surprising dose of optimism regarding Apple’s immediate plans. Gurman implies that Apple is feeling confident about its first foldable iPhone, which the rumor mill suggests could actually launch later in 2026.
By looking into a second, smaller model now, Apple seems to be building a roadmap to capitalize on the demand they expect the first release to generate.
This isn’t the first whisper of a flip-style iPhone. The Information previously claimed Apple engineers had already built prototypes of this exact design. It appears the company is weighing two distinct paths for the future: the smaller square “flip” phone and a larger, book-style phone that offers more screen real estate.
However, not everything in Apple’s labs is moving quickly. The report notes that a much larger, iPad-sized hybrid device hit some engineering snags recently. That massive gadget might not see the light of day until 2029.
For now, all eyes are on the end of 2026 to see if Apple finally breaks its silence and gives the world the bending iPhone it has been waiting for.
