Imagine slipping an iPad mini into your pocket. That’s the promise Apple seems to be making with its first foldable iPhone, and newly leaked CAD renders give us our clearest look yet at how they might pull it off. Codenamed V68 and reportedly targeting a September 2026 launch, this device represents Apple’s long-awaited entry into the foldable arena, and if these leaks are accurate, they’re taking a distinctly different path than their competitors.
| Metric | Value | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Display Size | 5.5 | inch | 83.8mm wide × 120.6mm tall when folded |
| Inner Display Size | 7.76 | inch | 167.6mm × 120.6mm unfolded |
| Inner Display Resolution | 2,713 × 1,920 | pixels | Near iPad mini dimensions for apps |
| Thickness (Folded) | 9.6 | mm | Includes camera bump |
| Thickness (Unfolded) | 4.8 | mm | Excluding camera bump |
| Frame Material | Titanium & Aluminum | — | Mixed construction for durability |
| Rear Camera System | Dual | lens | Similar to iPhone 17 setup |
| Front Camera | Under-display | — | No visible notch on inner screen |
| Target Launch | September 2026 | — | Codenamed V68 |
The numbers tell an interesting story, but what really matters is how this thing feels in your hand. That wider-than-tall orientation when folded, at 83.8mm across, means it should slip into side pockets more comfortably than today’s towering smartphone slabs. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference when you’re trying to sit down without that awkward phone bulge.
A Different Kind of Foldable Philosophy
What’s immediately clear from this Apple’s foldable iPhone CAD leak is that Apple isn’t trying to win the thinness war. At 9.6mm thick when folded and 4.8mm when open, it’s actually slightly chunkier than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which measures 8.9mm closed and 4.2mm open. But here’s the thing, that extra millimeter or two appears to be going toward something much more important, a truly crease-free display.
Apple seems to be using laser-drilled microstructures in the display panel, an engineering approach that Samsung reportedly couldn’t crack. Think about watching a movie or reading an article without that distracting line down the middle. That’s the experience Apple is prioritizing, and honestly, it’s a trade-off most users would probably make. The mixed titanium and aluminum frame suggests they’re not cutting corners on durability either, which matters when you’re folding and unfolding a device hundreds of times.
The Pocket-Sized iPad Mini Experience
Unfold this thing, and you’re looking at a 7.76-inch screen with 2,713 × 1,920 resolution. Those dimensions are nearly identical to an iPad mini, which means split-screen apps, note-taking, and media consumption should feel familiar to anyone who’s used Apple’s smallest tablet. The under-display selfie camera means no notch interrupting your view, creating that uninterrupted canvas Apple loves so much.
What’s clever about the design is how it changes your relationship with the device. When folded, that squarer profile feels less like a traditional phone and more like a mini tablet folded in half. It’s easier to grip horizontally, and the wider stance should enable better one-handed use when closed. This directly addresses one of the biggest complaints about current foldables, those tall, narrow outer displays that can feel awkward for quick tasks.
Camera Strategy and Daily Usability
On the camera front, Apple appears to be taking a quality-over-quantity approach with a dual rear setup similar to what we expect from the iPhone 17. It’s a sensible move, focusing on getting the fundamentals right rather than packing in extra lenses that most people won’t use. The inner screen’s under-display camera should be nearly invisible during daily use, which is exactly what you want when you’re immersed in content.
From an industry perspective, this leak suggests Apple has been watching the foldable market carefully, learning from competitors’ mistakes before committing to its first folding device. They’ve taken their time, and that patience might pay off in a product that feels refined from day one. Of course, as with any ambitious Apple product, there are whispers about potential major supply crunch challenges that could make it hard to find initially.
How It Stacks Up Against Samsung
The natural comparison is with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, which has defined the large-screen foldable category for years. While Samsung’s latest models are slightly thinner, Apple seems to be betting that most users will value a crease-free iPad mini experience over absolute slimness. It’s a philosophical difference that speaks to each company’s priorities.
Samsung has pushed the boundaries of thinness with its Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, while Apple appears focused on display perfection and pocket-friendly proportions. Neither approach is inherently wrong, but they’ll appeal to different types of users. If you prioritize media consumption and note-taking on a larger screen, Apple’s approach might resonate more. If you want the absolute thinnest folding device, Samsung still has the edge.
The Bottom Line
What we’re seeing here is Apple doing what Apple does best, entering a category late but with a clearly defined vision. They’re not just making a foldable phone, they’re making a pocket-sized iPad mini that happens to fold. The wider folded stance, crease-free display technology, and iPad mini-like unfolded experience all point toward a device designed for specific use cases rather than trying to check every possible box.
Of course, these are just CAD renders based on leaks, and things can change between now and a potential 2026 launch. But if this is indeed the direction Apple is heading, it suggests they’ve identified what matters most to users in a folding device, pocketability, display quality, and that seamless transition between phone and tablet modes. It’s an exciting glimpse into what could be, and it’s got us counting down to September 2026.
