Apple is currently developing a range of iPhones, but the most anticipated introduction is the company’s first venture into the foldable phone arena with the iPhone Fold.
Though a formal announcement and release have yet to materialize, eager fans seeking a sneak peek at the forthcoming device have found a temporary alternative.
A mockup of the iPhone Fold, crafted from leaked CAD files, has emerged online, providing a substantial physical hint regarding Apple’s long-speculated foldable smartphone.
As foldable smartphones become increasingly commonplace, Apple’s unique strategy distinguishes itself, rekindling both enthusiasm and trepidation among consumers anxious to witness the company’s reimagining of this segment.
The iPhone Fold: Mirroring an iPad Experience
At the heart of this discourse is a plastic prototype created by a user identified as Subsy, who asserts that it draws from illicitly obtained CAD files originating from Apple’s production lines.
While Apple has yet to authenticate these documents, this tangible mockup provides a rare artifact in the speculation cycle: an object that users can examine, challenge, and even replicate.
Subsy shared the model on MakerWorld, characterizing it as “a physical reference you can actually hold,” rather than a definitive illustration of Apple’s intentions.
The hinge design, for instance, remains unverified against any known Apple specifications. Nevertheless, the overall dimensions have garnered attention for their perceived unconventionality relative to existing foldable models.
Someone on Reddit 3D printed the iPhone Fold based on leaked specifications and it looks amazing.
It has a passport-style form factor with a wide outer display, and a landscape 4:3 inner display. pic.twitter.com/QGP2oiv8yW
— AppleLeaker (@LeakerApple) December 23, 2025
The most noteworthy aspect is Apple’s apparent inclination to enhance the user experience when the device is unfolded. When fully opened, the phone bears a striking resemblance to an iPad mini, indicating Apple’s ambition for a nearly square internal display optimized for multitasking and productivity.
This approach presents challenges when the device is folded, yielding a squarer outer form factor than typical smartphones.
This strategy starkly contrasts with competitors like Samsung and Google, whose foldable devices generally employ elongated outer screens to maintain a traditional phone-like appearance when closed. Should the mockup hold true, Apple seems prepared to compromise conventional ergonomics for a more tablet-like internal functionality.
Design Challenges and Developer Implications
Leaked specifications provided via X indicate that the device, reportedly codenamed V68, measures 83.8 mm in width and 120.6 mm in height when folded. Its outer display spans approximately 5.5 inches, while its unfolded state reveals a 7.76-inch screen with a resolution of 2,713 x 1,920, crafting a near-square canvas.
User feedback has been mixed; some laud the design for its portability, likening it to the discontinued iPhone mini and praising its multitasking potential. Conversely, others express concern about its practicality, humorously suggesting that its wide shape might be cumbersome during phone calls or video streaming on the outer screen.
Such considerations may be scrutinized during WWDC in June. Although an official unveiling seems unlikely, Apple could potentially introduce new developer tools designed to facilitate app adaptation to unconventional screen ratios. This would be crucial to mitigate usability challenges at launch.
Furthermore, speculation abounds that Apple might offer a preview of the foldable device months prior to its release, reminiscent of how they teased the original iPhone in 2007.
However, it is purported that mass production will not commence until late 2026, with pricing projected to surpass $2,000 (£1,580), firmly situating this device in the ultra-premium market segment.
At present, the mockup offers only an unofficial look into Apple’s aspirations. Whether it signifies a daring evolution or a precarious gamble will depend on how closely these early impressions align with reality and whether Apple can persuade consumers that a square foldable merits a reevaluation of their smartphone usage patterns.
Source link: Inkl.com.
