iPhone Fold against all comers, a mockup compared across various foldable formats

With the approaching official debut of the first iPhone Fold, planned for the end of 2026 in conjunction with the iPhone 18 Pro series, the attention of experts and enthusiasts has shifted to how Apple’s vision will fit into an ecosystem already populated by veterans.

The recent mockups emerged, based on CAD files and industrial leaks, offer a concrete preview of what is shaping up to be a shift in both aesthetics and functionality.

iPhone Fold, the comparison with the main competitors

What immediately distinguishes Apple’s concept from competitors is the radical choice of format. While many manufacturers have opted for narrow and elongated external displays, the mockup reveals a much wider and bulkier structure already when closed.

Once opened, the device reveals an internal panel of about 7.8 inches with a form factor that is decidedly more rectangular than the competition. This setup naturally favors landscape mode, turning the smartphone into what many describe as a true “pocket iPad Mini.”

This horizontal breadth creates a clear contrast with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Although the latter is a benchmark in the sector, Apple’s proposition appears thinner and wider, moving away from the status quo to embrace an ergonomic approach that favors productivity and the viewing of video content without having to rotate the device.

On the other side lies the Huawei Pura X, a vertical clamshell foldable that leans entirely on extreme compactness. Although they belong to different categories, the iPhone Fold mockup shows a close aesthetic kinship with Huawei’s approach to display width, though Apple’s device remains inevitably more voluminous and oriented toward a book-like closing.

Beyond aesthetics, the iPhone Fold seems to aim at solving the historical pain points of foldables. Rumors point to a liquid-metal hinge and proprietary technology to eliminate completely the central crease, a challenge Apple intends to win to justify a premium positioning that could exceed €2,000. /p>

Under the hood, the A20 Pro chip hints at a machine optimized for artificial intelligence and advanced multitasking. The integration of the side Touch ID completes the list of expected specifications.

The uniqueness of this “passport style” format will not go unnoticed: rumors indicate that competitors like Samsung and Oppo are already recalibrating their production lines to respond with wider models, confirming that Apple’s entry is destined to influence the design choices of the entire industry.