The iPhone Fold may be the most talked-about upcoming foldable smartphone, but Apple is reportedly working on a second option: the iPhone Flip.
While brands like Samsung have already released foldable devices like the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip, Apple has yet to enter the foldable market.
Rumors suggest the iPhone Fold will be a large-screen device that opens like a book to reveal a bigger display. However, there’s also talk of a smaller model, the iPhone Flip, which would look like a regular iPhone when open but fold in half to save space when closed.
Prototyping the iPhone Flip
There are plenty of rumors about the iPhone Fold, but it might not be the only foldable iPhone in development. In fact, some reports suggest Apple is working on more.
In February, a report mentioned that Apple had reached out to a manufacturer about parts for two different foldable iPhones. If the larger one is the iPhone Fold, it makes sense that the second one would be a smaller model.
This smaller version would likely be the iPhone Flip.
It’s almost certain that Apple has been working on foldable device prototypes for a while. The many patents on the subject suggest that they’ve seriously explored the idea.
iPhone Flip gets a codename and folds vertically
A July report claimed that Apple is working on another folding iPhone besides the iPhone Fold. This model, codenamed “v68,” is said to have a similar long and narrow screen design as the regular iPhone.
The iPhone Flip is described as a top-down fold, much like the Samsung Galaxy Flip, where the top half folds down over the bottom half.
This design could give the iPhone Flip similar features to the Galaxy Flip, like being able to open partially in an L shape, allowing the screen to stand upright without needing a kickstand.
The report mentioned that the iPhone Flip, being a foldable version of the regular iPhone, would likely have similar specifications to current models.
It’s unclear if there will be an external display like the iPhone Fold, but the Flip might be a thinner device. Since folding it in half could make it thicker when closed, Apple might work to make the chassis slimmer to balance that out.
Apple could achieve this slim design, as they are known for making thin devices. The iPhone Flip could be as thin as the 0.20-inch iPad Pro, aligning with Apple’s goal to offer the slimmest devices on the market.
The iPhone Flip might be released in 2026 or 2027
You shouldn’t expect the iPhone Flip anytime soon. A report in June suggested that Apple might not release foldable devices until at least 2027. Earlier, in March, there were rumors of a possible late 2026 launch, but that has now been delayed to early 2027.
“iPhone Flip Screen Technology”
To make a screen that can fold, Apple needs to create a display that can handle being folded many times in the same spot. Since April 2022, Apple has been working with partners to make flexible screens for devices like iPads and MacBooks, and by May, they started working on iPhone screens too.
By September of that year, Apple was collaborating with LG Display and Samsung Display to make screens that wouldn’t crumple. They worked on hybrid OLED panels that combine hard glass with flexible plastic.
It makes sense that Apple is working with its display partners on this project because they have strong relationships with them. Plastic can bend, but glass can’t, so using plastic is a good choice.
Apple has looked into various ways to make the screen fold without creases, as shown in their patents. They have considered complex hinge designs to protect the screen and other ideas like stretchable screens.
No matter what solution Apple chooses for making the screen fold, they have definitely explored many different options and problems.
The details of these specifications will depend on what Apple plans for its main iPhone models in 2026 or 2027. Technology changes quickly, so a lot could change in the next two years.