| Metric | Value | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Display Size | 5.5 | inch | When folded, 83.8mm x 120.6mm |
| Inner Display Size | 7.76 | inch | When unfolded, 167.6mm x 120.6mm |
| Inner Display Resolution | 2,713 x 1,920 | pixels | Nearly matches iPad mini density |
| Thickness (Folded) | 9.6 | mm | Including camera bump |
| Thickness (Unfolded) | 4.8 | mm | Excluding camera bump |
| Frame Material | Titanium + Aluminum | — | Mixed construction for durability |
| Expected Launch | September 2026 | — | Based on current rumors |
You know that feeling when you first hold a truly well-made piece of technology? The weight distribution feels just right, the materials have a cool, substantial heft, and everything clicks into place with satisfying precision. That’s the exact sensation these latest Apple foldable iPhone CAD leaks evoke, even though we’re just looking at renders.
According to documents obtained by iPhone-Ticker.de, Apple’s first folding iPhone, codenamed V68, isn’t just another foldable. It’s a pocket-sized iPad mini experience that actually slips into your jeans without creating an awkward bulge. Imagine unfolding a device that gives you nearly 8 inches of screen real estate for split-screen apps or handwritten notes, then folding it down to something that fits better in side pockets than today’s towering smartphone slabs.
The Pocket-Sized iPad Mini Experience
Let’s talk dimensions, because they tell a fascinating story about Apple’s design philosophy. When folded, you’re looking at a 5.5-inch outer display measuring 83.8mm wide by 120.6mm tall. That wider-than-tall orientation is a deliberate choice. It creates a squarer profile that feels less like a traditional phone and more like a mini tablet folded in half.
Unfold it, and the magic happens. The inner screen expands to 167.6mm by 120.6mm, delivering a 7.76-inch canvas with a sharp 2,713 by 1,920 resolution. That’s essentially iPad mini territory, but it folds down to something that disappears into your pocket. At just 4.8mm thin when open (excluding the camera bump), it’s actually slimmer than the ultra-thin iPhone Air.
Here’s where Apple’s engineering obsession shines through. The leaked CAD renders show the company prioritizing a truly crease-free experience over chasing the absolute thinnest profile. 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 that extra millimeter accommodates something special: laser-drilled microstructures that apparently create a display surface Samsung hasn’t been able to crack.
Engineering Over Thinness
Think about the last time you used a foldable phone. That visible crease down the middle isn’t just a cosmetic issue. It affects how content flows across the screen, how light reflects at different angles, and honestly, it just feels like a compromise. Apple seems determined to avoid that compromise entirely.
The mixed titanium and aluminum frame suggests Apple is balancing durability with weight. Titanium provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, while aluminum helps keep costs manageable. This isn’t just about making a folding phone. It’s about making a folding phone that feels like it could survive the daily grind.
Compared to what Samsung’s thinnest foldables offer, Apple’s approach feels deliberately conservative. They’re not chasing millimeter wars. Instead, they’re solving the fundamental problems that have made foldables feel like early adopter toys rather than mainstream tools.
Practical Design Choices
That wider folded stance does more than just fit better in pockets. It makes the device easier to grip horizontally and enables better one-handed use when closed. If you’ve ever struggled with tall, narrow outer displays on competing foldables, this design directly addresses those complaints.
Camera specs appear to follow Apple’s “quality over quantity” philosophy. The dual rear setup looks similar to what we expect from the iPhone 17, focusing on sensor quality and computational photography rather than adding extra lenses for marketing bullet points. More interesting is the inner screen’s under-display selfie camera with no visible notch. That means an uninterrupted viewing experience for media consumption, video calls, or just browsing the web.
Picture this: You’re on a flight, unfolding this device to watch a movie. There’s no notch cutting into the cinematic experience, no crease distracting you during dramatic scenes. Then you fold it back up to reply to messages on the outer display during taxiing. The transition feels seamless, not like you’re switching between two different devices.
The 2026 Reality Check
Now for the sobering part. These renders point to a September 2026 launch, which feels simultaneously close and impossibly far away. In the tech world, two years is an eternity. But it also gives Apple time to perfect what they’re building.
If recent reports are accurate, finding one of these before 2027 might feel like winning the lottery. Production challenges around those laser-drilled microstructures and the mixed-material hinge could create serious supply constraints. Apple has never been a company to rush products to market, especially not in categories where first impressions matter this much.
What’s fascinating is how Apple appears to have learned from competitors’ mistakes. They watched Samsung, Google, and others navigate the early foldable market, taking notes on what users loved and what frustrated them. The result seems to be a device that prioritizes the fundamentals: a display that doesn’t compromise, a form factor that actually works in real life, and build quality that doesn’t make you nervous about durability.
Display Technology Leap
Those laser-drilled microstructures deserve more attention. They represent a different approach to solving the crease problem. Instead of trying to make the folding mechanism so perfect that no crease forms, Apple seems to be engineering the display itself to maintain visual continuity even when folded.
It’s part of a broader display technology revolution happening across the industry. From micro-RGB TVs to foldable phones, we’re seeing manufacturers push boundaries in how screens can bend, fold, and conform to new form factors. Apple’s contribution here could set new standards for what consumers expect from foldable displays.
The 2,713 by 1,920 resolution on the inner screen is particularly telling. That’s not just a random number. It’s carefully calculated to provide pixel density comparable to the iPad mini, ensuring text remains crisp and images stay sharp even when you’re using the expanded canvas for productivity work.
What It Means for You
For now, this remains a tantalizing glimpse into Apple’s foldable future. But it reveals something important about the company’s approach. They’re not just making a folding iPhone. They’re reimagining what a pocketable computing device can be.
The wider form factor suggests Apple sees this as more than a phone that gets bigger. It’s a mini tablet that gets smaller. That subtle shift in perspective changes everything about how the device might be used, what software might be developed for it, and how it fits into your daily workflow.
As we wait for September 2026 to arrive, these CAD leaks give us plenty to think about. They show a company taking the foldable concept seriously, addressing its weaknesses rather than just copying what already exists. Whether you’re excited about the prospect of a crease-free display, intrigued by the pocket-friendly dimensions, or just curious to see how Apple enters this market, one thing’s clear: the folding phone landscape is about to get much more interesting.
