Imagine unfolding your phone and suddenly having an iPad mini in your hands. That’s the promise leaking out of Apple’s engineering labs right now, and if these CAD renders are anywhere close to reality, we’re looking at a device that could redefine what a pocket computer can be.
The leaked documents, codenamed V68, show Apple’s first foldable iPhone taking shape for a September 2026 launch. What’s striking isn’t just that Apple is finally entering the foldable market, but how they’re approaching it with that signature Apple philosophy: wait, watch, learn, then execute with precision.
| 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, iPad mini territory |
| Inner Display Resolution | 2,713 × 1,920 | pixels | Sharp density for text and media |
| Thickness (Folded) | 9.6 | mm | Slightly thicker than Samsung’s Fold 7 |
| Thickness (Unfolded) | 4.8 | mm | Excluding camera bump, thinner than iPhone Air |
| Frame Material | Titanium + Aluminum | — | Mixed construction for durability and weight balance |
| Camera System | Dual Rear | — | Similar to iPhone 17, under-display selfie camera |
| Target Launch | September 2026 | — | Subject to supply chain and production timelines |
The Pocket-Sized iPad Mini Experience
Here’s where Apple’s approach gets interesting. When folded, the device measures 83.8mm wide by 120.6mm tall, creating a wider-than-tall orientation that actually slips into side pockets better than today’s towering smartphone slabs. It’s a thoughtful design choice that addresses one of the biggest complaints about current foldables: that awkward, tall, narrow outer display that feels like using a remote control.
Unfold it, and you’re looking at 167.6mm by 120.6mm of screen real estate. At 7.76 inches diagonal with that 2,713 by 1,920 resolution, you’re essentially holding an iPad mini experience that folds in half to fit in your jeans. Think about reading PDFs side-by-side, taking handwritten notes with an Apple Pencil, or watching videos without constantly adjusting the aspect ratio. That’s the daily utility Apple is chasing here.
Engineering the Impossible: A Truly Crease-Free Display
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or rather, the absence of one. The crease. Samsung, Google, and every other foldable manufacturer have been wrestling with this optical compromise for years. Apple’s solution, according to these leaks, involves laser-drilled microstructures in the display layers that maintain panel integrity while allowing that crucial folding motion.
The trade-off? Thickness. At 9.6mm folded and 4.8mm unfolded (excluding the camera bump), Apple’s foldable is slightly thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which comes in at 8.9mm closed and 4.2mm open. But here’s the thing: that extra millimeter or so accommodates the engineering required for what might be the first truly crease-free foldable display in mass production.
From a materials perspective, Apple is reportedly using a mixed titanium and aluminum frame. Titanium provides that premium feel and structural rigidity at the hinge points, while aluminum keeps weight manageable. It’s the same balanced approach we’ve seen in recent MacBooks and iPad Pros, applied to a completely new form factor.
How It Feels in Your Hand (And Your Life)
Let’s get practical for a moment. That 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. In practice, this means better horizontal grip and actually usable one-handed operation when closed.
Picture this: you’re walking through an airport, one hand on your luggage, the other holding your phone. With most foldables, you’re either struggling with that narrow outer display or constantly unfolding for basic tasks. With Apple’s design, that 5.5-inch outer display becomes genuinely useful for quick texts, email scanning, or even watching short videos while you wait.
Open it up, and the 7.76-inch inner screen features an under-display selfie camera with no visible notch or punch-hole. That means uninterrupted viewing for movies, video calls where you’re not staring at a black dot on your forehead, and gaming sessions where the entire display is your canvas.
The camera system keeps things simple with a dual rear setup reportedly similar to the iPhone 17’s configuration. Apple seems to be prioritizing sensor quality and computational photography over cramming in extra lenses. Given how good iPhone cameras have become with just two sensors, this feels like the right call for a first-generation device.
The Supply Chain Reality Check
Here’s where we need to temper our excitement with some industry reality. A September 2026 target means Apple has nearly two years of development and testing ahead. In the display technology world, that’s both an eternity and no time at all.
The laser-drilled microstructure approach for the crease-free display represents uncharted manufacturing territory at this scale. Early production yields will likely be low, and component costs high. This isn’t just speculation, industry sources have been pointing to potential supply constraints that could make Apple’s first foldable iPhone surprisingly difficult to find well into 2027.
Apple’s typical playbook with new form factors has been to start with premium pricing and limited availability, then expand as manufacturing scales and costs come down. Remember the original iPhone? The first Apple Watch? The Vision Pro? All followed this pattern. Expect the same here, with early adopters potentially facing waitlists and premium pricing.
Why This Could Actually Work
What strikes me about these leaks is how Apple appears to have learned from everyone else’s mistakes. They’re not chasing the absolute thinnest profile. They’re not cramming in every camera sensor imaginable. They’re not trying to reinvent the smartphone wheel.
Instead, they’re focusing on three things that actually matter for daily use: a crease-free viewing experience, practical pocketability, and that seamless transition between phone and tablet modes. The wider folded design addresses real ergonomic complaints. The display technology prioritizes visual quality over bragging rights. The camera system focuses on doing a few things exceptionally well.
Will it be perfect? Of course not. First-generation products never are. But looking at these CAD renders and specifications, I can’t help but feel optimistic. Apple waited this long for a reason: to watch the market mature, identify the pain points, and engineer solutions that might actually make foldables feel like the future of computing rather than just a novelty.
If these leaks hold true, and if Apple can execute on the manufacturing challenges, we might finally have a foldable that doesn’t feel like a compromise. A device that gives you an iPad mini when you need it and slips into your pocket when you don’t. After years of incremental smartphone updates, that’s something worth getting excited about.
