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For the first time, the iPhone Fold is shown in a physical size comparison image next to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The proportions of the foldable iPhone are unusual – and are already polarizing opinions.
The well-known and reliable leaker Sonny Dickson has published photos of dummy models, showing the iPhone Fold for the first time in a direct size comparison with the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The images clearly illustrate how radically Apple's foldable device differs from previous iPhone proportions – and simultaneously raise questions about the everyday usability of the closed device.
Dummy models are used in the accessories industry to develop cases and accessories in advance. They represent the final dimensions of a device but don't show all design details such as camera positions or the MagSafe marking. The fact that such dummies are now appearing is further evidence that, despite the recently reported problems in the testing phase, the iPhone Fold is already being treated as a final product in the supply chain.
Passport format: Wider and shorter than the iPhone
When folded, the iPhone Fold resembles a passport: it is significantly wider and shorter than a conventional iPhone. This format deviates considerably from the ergonomics that iPhone users are accustomed to. One-handed operation when closed will likely be more difficult than with the slim iPhone 18 Pro.
When unfolded, the device offers a 7.8-inch display with a wider aspect ratio than most Android foldables. Apple has clearly opted to prioritize the unfolded viewing experience: the wider format allows for a better viewing experience with 16:9 media such as movies and TV shows. Many competing devices from Samsung or Google rely on a nearly square inner display – a compromise Apple wants to avoid.
Closer to the iPad mini than the Pro Max
Although the 7.8-inch screen diagonal is only slightly larger on paper than the 6.9 inches of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the altered aspect ratio results in a significantly larger usable display area. In practice, the iPhone Fold is therefore closer to an iPad mini than the Pro Max – a deliberate design choice that positions the device as a compact tablet replacement.
Extremely thin, but without Face ID
When unfolded, the iPhone Fold will be less than 5 millimeters thick – the thinnest iOS device ever. When folded, it measures around 9.5 millimeters, slightly more than the 8.75 millimeters of the iPhone 18 Pro.
This extreme thinness has consequences: As previously reported, Apple was unable to fit the Face ID components into the slim casing. Instead, Touch ID is used in the side button – a first for the current iPhone generation.
The dummy models also show the distinctive hinge line in the center of the inner display. However, according to several sources, Apple has developed a virtually invisible display crease, so the finished product should appear significantly more seamless than the dummy suggests.
iPhone Fold: Polarizing design
Reactions to the images are mixed. While the unfolded display size is met with enthusiasm, the wide, closed format is drawing criticism. Some observers complain that the device is hardly usable as a normal smartphone when folded and that it practically always has to be unfolded.
Apple is thus faced with the classic dilemma of foldable devices: Should the design be optimized for the open or the closed state? Apple has clearly opted for the former – accepting compromises in compactness as a result. Whether this approach will prevail in the market remains to be seen. (Image: Sonny Dickson / X)
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