The iPhone Fold is expected to arrive later this year and has all the obvious foldable design basics, including a hinge and foldable display. But rumors suggest that the iPhone Fold will also include some unique design features that will be Apple’s firsts beyond these basics. Here’s what’s coming:
#1: Front camera perforated cutout
Hole-punch camera cutouts are common on many Android smartphones, but Apple has never done one before.
Most modern iPhones use dynamic islands, but the iPhone 18 Pro reportedly shrinks the dynamic islands a bit. But a dynamic island is much bigger than a simple hole punch, and the new iPhone 17e has an even bigger notch.
However, the iPhone Fold is rumored to have a single hole at the top center for the front camera.
The main reason Apple was able to achieve a hole-punch design with the iPhone Fold but not with the iPhone 18 Pro or other new models is because the device doesn’t include Face ID.
Due to the thinness of the design, Apple has reportedly not yet found a way to fit two sets of Face ID components into the foldable device. Instead, new models will be able to use Touch ID and offer a hole-punch camera cutout in the front display without requiring additional space for Face ID.
#2: Unique display size and orientation
Apple has never made an iPhone with a foldable-like display size and orientation.
And that applies to both inner and outer displays.
The CAD leak shows a front display that’s much wider than the standard iPhone screen, opening out to an inner display that’s also slightly shorter and much wider.
In some ways, the iPhone Fold’s design is more reflective of a small book or notebook than a smartphone.
The inner display design is most similar to the iPad mini. But even that comparison doesn’t quite line up with what’s rumored regarding the iPhone Fold’s size and orientation. It’s close, but Apple’s foldable product will still feel unique.
#3: Left side without buttons
The left side of the iPhone has historically had volume buttons and a call switch, but has recently been replaced with an action button.
However, rumors suggest that the left side of the iPhone Fold will be completely devoid of buttons.
This is understandable since they want an unobtrusive hinge mechanism, but Apple may have other reasons as well. According to leaker Instant Digital:
Why this arrangement? Since the motherboard is on the right side and we didn’t want to run wires across the screen to the left side for the buttons, the left side was completely devoid of physical buttons, leaving almost all of the space dedicated to the screen structure and battery.
It’s definitely going to take some adjusting to get used to the lack of buttons on the left side of the iPhone. That said, the basic form factor of Apple’s first foldable iPhone requires its own significant learning curve overall.
Interested in making the iPhone Fold your next iPhone? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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