Apple’s Foldable iPhone CAD Leak Reveals a Crease-Free iPad Mini That Actually Fits in Your Pocket

Imagine slipping an iPad mini into your pocket. That’s the promise Apple seems to be making with its first foldable iPhone, and if these leaked CAD renders are any indication, they might actually pull it off. The engineering here feels like a direct response to everything that’s frustrated us about foldables for years.

When you first see the dimensions in the table above, the numbers don’t fully capture what Apple’s trying to do. That 5.5-inch outer display measures 83.8mm wide and 120.6mm tall when folded, creating a wider-than-tall orientation that actually makes sense for side pockets. It’s a subtle but important shift away from the towering slabs we’ve been carrying around.

The Pocket-Sized iPad Mini Experience

Unfold this thing, and you’re looking at a 7.76-inch inner screen with a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution. That’s nearly identical to an iPad mini’s pixel real estate, which means you’re getting proper split-screen apps and note-taking capabilities without carrying a separate tablet. At just 4.8mm thin when open, it’s actually thinner than the ultra-slim iPhone Air, which is an engineering feat considering it has to fold in half.

What really catches my attention is how Apple seems to have prioritized the right things. The device measures 9.6mm thick when folded and 4.8mm unfolded, making it slightly thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 at 8.9mm closed and 4.2mm open. But here’s the thing, that extra thickness accommodates the engineering required for what might be the first truly crease-free display in a mainstream foldable.

The Crease-Free Promise

Apple appears to be using laser-drilled microstructures that Samsung reportedly couldn’t crack. This isn’t just about making the crease less noticeable, it’s about eliminating it entirely. For anyone who’s used current foldables, you know that visible line down the middle becomes something you notice every single time you scroll past it. Apple’s approach suggests they’re willing to sacrifice a fraction of a millimeter in thickness to solve what’s been the most persistent complaint about foldable displays.

The wider folded stance creates what the leaks describe as a “squarer profile” that feels less like a traditional phone and more like a mini tablet folded in half. This design choice makes it easier to grip horizontally and enables better one-handed use when closed. It directly addresses complaints about tall, narrow outer displays on competing foldables that can feel awkward in the hand.

Build Quality That Feels Like Apple

The mixed titanium and aluminum frame tells a story about durability priorities. Titanium provides the structural integrity where it’s needed most, while aluminum keeps weight manageable. It’s the same thoughtful material selection we’ve seen in recent iPhone Pro models, applied to a completely new form factor.

Camera specs include a dual rear setup similar to what we expect from the iPhone 17, prioritizing quality over quantity. The inner screen features an under-display selfie camera with no visible notch, creating an uninterrupted viewing experience for media consumption. It’s a clean solution that maintains Apple’s design language while embracing the foldable format.

Learning From Everyone Else’s Mistakes

What’s fascinating about this Apple foldable CAD leak is how it suggests Apple has been watching the foldable market closely, learning from competitors’ stumbles before committing to its first folding device. The company took years to materialize a foldable strategy, and these renders show they might have used that time wisely.

However, as we’ve seen with other ambitious Apple projects, production reality checks can delay even the most promising devices. The September 2026 launch target feels ambitious, especially when you consider the manufacturing challenges of that crease-free display technology.

When you compare this to Samsung’s approach, you see two different philosophies at work. Samsung has been pushing the boundaries of thinness, while Apple appears focused on perfecting the experience first. That extra thickness in Apple’s design accommodates not just the display engineering, but likely a more robust hinge mechanism and better thermal management too.

The Practical Implications

For daily use, this design could change how we think about mobile devices. The wider outer display makes it more usable for quick tasks without unfolding, while the inner screen provides a genuine tablet experience when you need it. It’s the convergence device people have been asking for, one that could actually replace both your phone and your small tablet.

The under-display camera on the inner screen means no compromises when watching movies or playing games unfolded. And that dual rear camera setup, while not the triple or quad arrays we see on some flagships, suggests Apple is betting on computational photography and sensor quality over sheer lens count.

As we look toward that 2026-2027 timeline, it’s clear Apple wants to get this right on the first try. The company has watched Samsung, Google, and others navigate the early adopter phase of foldables, and these CAD renders suggest they’re aiming to deliver a product that feels polished from day one.

Will it be worth the wait? If Apple can deliver that crease-free display in a package that genuinely fits in your pocket while offering iPad mini-level productivity, they might just redefine what we expect from foldable devices. The engineering challenges are significant, but so is the potential payoff for getting it right.