iPhone Fold: iPad aspect ratio in smartphone format

The iPhone Fold is getting closer. While Apple remains officially tight-lipped, new reports provide concrete clues about the design and technical specifications of the first foldable iPhone. The planned display format is particularly striking. Unlike previous foldable devices, the iPhone Fold is expected to be wider than it is tall when unfolded. This suggests a clear design approach based on Apple's tablets, rather than existing smartphones.

Apple is currently working on finalizing the designs for its flagship iPhone models for the coming years. In this context, more and more details about the iPhone Fold are emerging. Several leaks, as well as a comprehensive report from The Information, confirm earlier indications and provide further clarity regarding the device's form, size, and technical implementation. The aspect ratio of the inner display is of particular interest.

New clues about the design of the iPhone Fold

Previously, the well-known leaker Digital Chat Station had revealed several key features of the iPhone Fold. Shortly afterward, The Information published a comprehensive report on Apple's iPhone roadmap for the coming years. This report confirms many of the previous leaks and adds crucial details about the display shape.

Both sources assume that the iPhone Fold will be equipped with an outer display of approximately 5.3 inches and an inner display of around 7.7 inches. These dimensions clearly place the device between a traditional smartphone and a tablet.

The internal display is wider than it is tall

The most important new point from The Information report concerns the aspect ratio of the inner display. According to the report, the iPhone Fold, when unfolded, will have a display that is wider than it is tall. This is a significant difference from most current foldable smartphones.

According to Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu, Apple is basing the design on the aspect ratio of the largest iPads in landscape mode. This means that the iPhone Fold can be used more like a compact tablet than a highly stretched smartphone.

This decision is likely to have a direct impact on multitasking, media consumption, and productivity applications. A wider display offers more space for split views and side-by-side content.

Differences between Samsung and Google

Apple's two biggest smartphone competitors in the US, Samsung and Google, are taking a different approach with their foldable devices. Even when unfolded, their devices are taller than they are wide. The report provides specific dimensions for comparison:

When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold7 measures approximately 6.24 inches in height, 5.64 inches in width and 0.17 inches in depth.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold measures approximately 6.1 inches in height, 5.9 inches in width, and 0.2 inches in depth.

These figures illustrate that Apple has deliberately chosen a different format with the iPhone Fold. While Samsung and Google are opting for a narrower, portrait-oriented design, Apple is moving towards landscape format and tablet-like use.

Camera and sensors in the iPhone Fold

New details have also emerged regarding the front camera. Like the iPhone 18 Pro models, the iPhone Fold is expected to feature a single selfie camera. This will be located in the upper left corner of the device.

Additionally, light, proximity, and other sensors are integrated there. There is currently no indication of a classic notch or a dynamic island when the device is open. Apple seems to be focusing on integrating the sensors as discreetly as possible.

A foldable iPhone with its own unique approach

Although the iPhone Fold shares fundamental features with other foldable smartphones, such as its book-like opening mechanism, everything points to a unique design. The wider inner display, the iPad-like aspect ratio, and the clear differentiation from existing foldables indicate that Apple is not planning a direct copy of existing concepts.

Instead, a device is being created that is intended to integrate clearly into the existing Apple ecosystem and establish a new connection between iPhone and iPad.

The iPhone Fold: Between smartphone and tablet

Even before its official unveiling, the iPhone Fold is already shaping up to be an unusual and unique foldable device. Its wide, landscape-oriented inner display, in particular, sets it apart from the competition. The combination of an iPad-like aspect ratio, a clearly defined display size, and familiar camera and sensor technology suggests that Apple is planning a controlled and well-thought-out entry into the foldable market. Should this design prove successful, the iPhone Fold could appear less like an experiment and more like a logical extension of the existing iPhone and iPad lineup. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Photo by seveniwe / Bigstockphoto)