Apple may be testing a clamshell folding iPhone

Theo Fixed Focus Digitala famous account about leaked news on Weibo, Apple engineers have completed testing a folding iPhone model with a design similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip. However, the company is still considering and has not made a final decision about putting the device into mass production.

Leaked sources say that Apple will introduce the first folding iPhone model with a horizontal opening design like the Galaxy Z Fold in the fall of 2026. The device is expected to have a 5.5-inch internal screen, when opened it is equivalent to a 7.8-inch iPad mini tablet.

Expert Mark Gurman’s Bloomberg commented that Apple may want to wait to see the market response to the first folding iPhone model before moving forward with other designs. If favorable, the vertically folding iPhone could be released as early as 2027. One of the reasons the company is slower than its competitors in the folding phone segment is its perfectionism in hardware. Apple worked with Samsung to develop a folding screen without folds – a drawback that exists on most folding smartphones today.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is currently the best-selling clamshell folding phone in the world for 5 consecutive years. However, analysts believe that the folding smartphone market will no longer be considered a “niche” with Apple’s participation.

Apple may reveal the first information about the operating system optimized for folding screens at the WWDC event in June, creating a stepping stone for the launch of the folding device with the iPhone 18 generation in September.