The Flip Side of Innovation: Apple Labs Are Already Prototyping a “Square” Clamshell iPhone
Do Son 
While market rumors suggest that Apple’s inaugural foldable iPhone may debut as early as the latter half of this year, the corporation is evidently already evaluating a secondary foldable model, likely adopting the popular vertical “clamshell” form factor. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is conceptualizing a vertically folding iPhone to rival the ubiquitous Galaxy Z Flip series and similar offerings from Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, Motorola, and ZTE.
Gurman notes that this device currently remains “under consideration,” implying a protracted timeline toward mass production—or the possibility that it may never materialize. This suggests that Apple is still rigorously assessing whether such a design can satisfy its exacting standards for structural durability and display integrity. Conversely, the report indicates that Apple maintains an optimistic outlook for its first foldable iPhone, anticipated later this year, which is rumored to feature a book-style, horizontal fold with an internal display dimension approaching that of an iPad mini. To sustain market momentum, Apple seeks to cultivate a robust roadmap of successive foldable innovations.
Regarding the long-rumored large-format foldable device—a potential 20-inch hybrid of laptop and tablet—Gurman suggests that technical impediments in engineering such an expansive flexible display have deferred its projected debut to 2029. Although discourse regarding a foldable iPhone has circulated for years, the technological landscape of 2026—characterized by mature hinge architectures and resilient display substrates from competitors like Samsung—indicates that Apple’s entry into the market is imminent.
The rationale behind considering a “clamshell” design is rooted in market intelligence; compact foldables often eclipse their larger counterparts in sales volume due to more accessible price points (typically gravitating toward $1,000) and their appeal as fashionable, highly portable lifestyle statements, particularly among female demographics.
True to its corporate philosophy, Apple will refrain from a market launch until it has definitively resolved the challenges of display creasing and chassis thickness. However, given that Samsung recently demonstrated a revolutionary foldable display purportedly devoid of visible creases, the debut of Apple’s first foldable iPhone appears closer than ever, potentially accelerating the development of its more compact sibling.
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