Apple is exploring a new kind of foldable iPhone that folds into a square, pocket friendly shape. This device, often called the iPhone Flip, would use a clamshell design similar to today’s flip phones. While Apple already plans to launch its first foldable iPhone later this year, this smaller model shows that the company wants more than one foldable form in its lineup.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared this update in his Power On newsletter. He said Apple teams are now looking at a square, clamshell style foldable phone inside the company’s labs. According to him, this model is still in an early stage and has no release timeline yet.
“Now there’s another foldable device under consideration inside Apple labs: a square, clamshell-style foldable phone.”
A flip style iPhone is back on the table
Apple has looked at clamshell foldables before. In 2024, reports said the company built a few prototypes while testing how a foldable iPhone should work. At that time, Apple chose a larger book style foldable as its first model, and that device is expected to arrive later this year.
Now the flip style idea is back. Apple believes that if the first foldable iPhone sells well, people will want more options in different sizes and shapes. That logic mirrors how Apple expanded the regular iPhone line with Mini, Plus, and Pro models over the years.
“Apple is betting that its first foldable iPhone will be successful enough to generate real demand for the category and that customers will want additional shapes and sizes, much as they have with traditional slab-style iPhones.”
How the iPhone Flip would fit into the lineup
The first foldable iPhone will open like a book. It will offer a large inner display of about 7.7 inches and focus on video, gaming, and multitasking. In contrast, the iPhone Flip would focus on portability. It would fold down into a compact square that fits easily in a pocket, then open into a normal sized phone for daily use.
This puts the iPhone Flip in the same space as devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola’s modern Razr phones. Those models aim to give users a full smartphone experience in a smaller, more convenient form when closed.
Not a sure thing yet
Even with this renewed interest, Apple has not locked in the iPhone Flip as a real product. Gurman made it clear that the device is still uncertain.
“A clamshell iPhone is far from guaranteed to reach the market.”
For now, Apple’s main focus remains the book style foldable iPhone coming later this year. Still, the return of a flip style design shows that Apple wants to test how far foldable phones can go inside its ecosystem.
| Model | Expected Launch | Key Rumored Specs / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | September 2026 (premium launch) | Next-gen Pro flagship. Better cameras, A20 chip likely. Premium positioning. Split launch may delay standard models. |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | September 2026 (premium launch) | Larger variant of Pro with similar upgrades. Rumored part of 2026 flagship trio. |
| iPhone Fold (first foldable) | Expected late 2026 (or early 2027) | Book-style foldable. 7.8-inch internal + ~5.5-inch cover screen; rumored Touch ID and large battery; A20 chip. |
| iPhone 18 (standard) | Possibly Spring 2027 | Rumors suggest delayed launch to 2027 under split strategy; expected 6.2–6.3-inch display. |
| iPhone 18 Air | Early 2027 (rumored) | Leaks point to a lighter, mid-tier variant in spring (similar strategy to iPhone 16e). |
| iPhone 18e | Early 2027 (rumored) | Budget-oriented model released early next year, per some leaks. |
| iPhone Flip (clamshell foldable) | Rumored but undefined | Leaks say Apple is exploring a compact clamshell fold similar to Galaxy Z Flip. No firm launch window yet; possibly post-2027. |
If Apple moves ahead, the iPhone Flip would give users a second foldable option that trades screen size for comfort and easy carry. That choice alone could change how people think about using a foldable iPhone every day.
