Imagine pulling a device from your pocket that unfolds to reveal a screen nearly the size of an iPad Mini, yet feels no thicker than a few credit cards stacked together. That’s the promise emerging from leaked CAD renders of Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone, codenamed V68. After years of watching competitors iterate, Apple appears ready to enter the foldable arena with a device that prioritizes a seamless, crease-free experience over chasing the absolute thinnest profile. The leaked documents, sourced from iPhone-Ticker.de, paint a picture of a September 2026 launch for a device engineered to feel like a mini tablet folded in half, not just another tall, narrow phone.
| Metric | Value | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Display Size | 5.5 | inch | 83.8mm x 120.6mm when folded |
| Inner Display Size | 7.76 | inch | 167.6mm x 120.6mm when unfolded |
| Inner Display Resolution | 2,713 x 1,920 | pixels | Near iPad Mini dimensions for apps |
| Thickness (Folded) | 9.6 | mm | Includes hinge mechanism |
| Thickness (Unfolded) | 4.8 | mm | Excluding camera bump; ultra-slim |
| Frame Material | Titanium & Aluminum | — | Mixed construction for durability |
| Rear Camera System | Dual | lens | Similar setup to iPhone 17 series |
| Front Camera | Under-Display | — | No visible notch or punch-hole |
| Target Launch | September 2026 | — | Based on current leak timeline |
The Engineering Behind the Seamless Screen
What immediately stands out in these CAD leaks isn’t just the form factor, but Apple’s apparent solution to the foldable industry’s most persistent headache, the visible crease. While competitors have made strides, Apple seems to have thrown considerable engineering weight behind achieving a truly crease-free display. The secret, according to the documents, lies in laser-drilled microstructures within the display layers. This approach likely allows the flexible OLED panel to bend with minimal stress points, distributing the folding force more evenly than traditional hinge designs. It’s a classic Apple move, waiting to see what problems plague early adopters and then engineering a more refined solution.
This focus on display perfection comes with a slight trade-off in thickness. At 9.6mm when closed and 4.8mm when open, Apple’s foldable is a bit chunkier than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which measures 8.9mm closed and 4.2mm open. But here’s the consumer angle, that extra millimeter or so might be worth it if it means your movie or document isn’t bisected by a distracting shadow line every time you open the device. For note-taking, reading, or sketching, that uninterrupted canvas is everything.
A Form Factor Built for Real Pockets and Real Hands
Apple’s design philosophy shines through in the folded dimensions. The outer display measures 83.8mm wide by 120.6mm tall, creating a wider-than-tall orientation that the leaks suggest will “slip into side pockets better than today’s towering slabs.” Think about that for a second. Instead of a narrow, awkward bar when closed, you get a squarish, grippable device that feels more substantial and secure in your hand. This addresses a common complaint about existing foldables, where the tall, narrow cover screen can feel precarious for one-handed typing or quick replies.
Unfold it, and you’re greeted with a 7.76-inch inner screen at a sharp 2,713 x 1,920 resolution. The dimensions, 167.6mm by 120.6mm, are deliberately close to an iPad Mini. This isn’t an accident. It means iPadOS apps designed for that screen size could theoretically run perfectly without awkward scaling or black bars. Picture splitting your screen between a notes app and a reference browser, or watching a video while keeping your messages visible. The utility shifts from a phone that sometimes gets big to a pocketable tablet that’s always with you.
Camera Strategy and Daily Usability
On the imaging front, Apple appears to be taking a quality-over-quantity approach. The renders show a dual rear camera system, likely borrowing sensors and computational photography chops from the contemporaneous iPhone 17. The inner screen reportedly houses an under-display selfie camera, meaning no notch, no hole-punch, just a clean, expansive view for video calls or content creation. For media consumption, that’s a game-changer, no longer having a black island interrupting your widescreen movie.
The build materials hint at Apple’s confidence in durability, a major concern for any moving-parts device. A mixed frame of titanium and aluminum suggests strategic reinforcement at stress points like the hinge, while keeping weight manageable. The wider folded stance should also make the device easier to open without fumbling, a small but meaningful ergonomic win.
The Road to September 2026
While the leaked CADs point to a September 2026 launch, the journey from prototype to production is fraught with challenges, especially for a first-generation device with entirely new manufacturing processes. Industry whispers and previous reports have highlighted potential supply constraints that could make this device elusive at launch. Sourcing the specialized displays and perfecting the hinge mechanism at scale are hurdles Apple’s supply chain masters are undoubtedly working to overcome.
It’s fascinating to see how Apple’s entry reframes the foldable conversation. They aren’t trying to be the thinnest or the first. Instead, they’re focusing on solving the core user experience problems, crease visibility and pocketable utility. This leak suggests they’ve spent their observation years well, learning from the market’s experiments. The result could be a device that doesn’t just fold, but feels fundamentally considered in a way that makes the technology finally click for a mainstream audience. It’s a pocket-sized window into a future where your tablet and phone aren’t just connected, they’re literally the same device, perfected through Apple’s relentless focus on the details that matter when you actually use something every day. The engineering here, particularly the display technology required to make it work seamlessly, represents a significant leap forward for the entire category.
