Detailed leaks give first look at Apple’s iPhone Fold design

New leaks have offered the most concrete glimpse yet of Apple’s first foldable iPhone, informally known as the iPhone Fold. These design clues come from CAD renderings and schematic drawings that have circulated online and on platforms like Weibo, showing how the device could differ from existing foldable phones on the market.

Wider, “Passport-Like” Foldable Shape

The leaked design suggests Apple will avoid the tall, skinny proportions common in current foldable devices from competitors like Samsung and Google. Instead, the iPhone Fold appears to have a much squarer “passport-style” silhouette when closed. According to the draft schematics, its folded dimensions could be about 83.8 mm wide and 120.6 mm tall, with a thickness of around 9.6 mm when shut.

Once opened, the device could reveal a large internal screen around 7.7 to 7.8 inches, giving it display real estate closer to a small tablet than a traditional phone. CAD files reportedly show the open chassis at merely 4.8 mm thick, excluding camera bump protrusions. These proportions could make the iPhone Fold among the thinnest foldables if the measurements are accurate.

Early renders and leaks indicate the outer display will measure roughly 5.5 inches, positioned to balance everyday one-hand use with access to a larger internal panel for productivity and multimedia tasks. The aspect ratios of both screens lean toward more square-like dimensions, which may be a deliberate choice to align with tablet-style workflows and support more flexible app layouts.

Other Hardware Details

To address one of the most persistent challenges for foldable screens, the leaked drawings show a specialised hinge design that leaves a slight gap where the panels meet when folded. This gap, reportedly about 1.8 mm, may help reduce stress on the inner display and manage bending pressure more effectively.

The leaked visuals suggest the iPhone Fold will borrow design elements from recent Apple devices, including a horizontal dual-camera module on the back that resembles that of the iPhone Air series. Screen cutouts for front-facing cameras are also visible in drafts, showing a punch-hole arrangement on the outer display and under-display or edge-integrated solutions inside.

Several rumours from social platforms like Weibo point to a return of Touch ID on the power button, a departure from Apple’s Face ID-centric unlock strategy. This change is likely connected to the device’s foldable form factor and space constraints, and would mark the first time in years that Apple reintegrates its fingerprint sensor into a flagship smartphone.

Leak Origins and Final Design Uncertainties

Industry analysts caution that these leaked CAD renderings and schematic models may not reflect the final production design. Some early render models are thought to be based on third-party accessory maker prototypes rather than official Apple internal files.

Apple has maintained tight control over unannounced product details, and mass-production plans for the iPhone Fold could still evolve ahead of an expected late-2026 or early-2027 launch. But what do you think of the pre-rendered designs? Let us know, and do stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.