According to people familiar with the matter, without officially releasing the first folding screen iPhone, Apple has begun planning subsequent product forms, including a smaller clamshell folding iPhone. The book-style folding model currently being developed by Apple is generally referred to as the “iPhone Fold”, which uses a central axis folding scheme similar to that of a book, but this may not be Apple’s only attempt in the folding field.
In the latest issue of Bloomberg’s “Power On” column, reporter Mark Gurman said that in addition to the upcoming book-style folding iPhone, Apple’s laboratory is evaluating a smaller, square, clamshell-like folding iPhone prototype. Considerations in this direction mainly stem from potential market demand: if the first iPhone Fold is successful, it is expected to lead to a richer range of folding shapes and size options to meet the preferences of different users.
The report pointed out that Apple's internal discussions are not limited to the "miniaturization" route. A larger book-style folding iPhone is also within the planning scope. The positioning will be closer to the existing large-screen folding models from Samsung and other manufacturers, providing users with a mobile terminal close to a tablet experience. In other words, in the future, Apple’s folding product line is likely to focus on both the “compact clamshell” and “large-screen books” ends, covering a wider range of usage scenarios through size differentiation.
The clamshell folding form does not come out of nowhere. In recent years, many sources have almost pointed to the fact that Apple’s first foldable iPhone will adopt a book-style structure that folds in half from the middle. However, patents and rumors surrounding the rollable screen and clamshell design have existed even earlier. For example, patent documents show that Apple once envisioned a foldable iPhone solution that could be closed like a traditional flip phone and even clipped to clothing. In the Android camp, manufacturers such as Samsung have launched similar small folding machines for many years, making the horizontally folding clamshell design have a certain user base in the market.
The potential advantages of the clamshell solution lie in the body size and carrying experience. In theory, a foldable iPhone that is smaller in size but can provide a larger display area when unfolded can not only attract users who prefer a small screen to hold, similar to the iPhone 12 mini, but also cater to mainstream users who want a larger display space. If the phone completely adopts a "laptop-style" fold-in structure and is equipped with only a folding screen located inside the fuselage, then the screen will receive higher protection in daily storage and will only be exposed when it is opened for use, thus reducing the risk of scratches and accidental bumps.
However, from the perspective of product line logic, it seems unlikely that Apple will launch a book-style iPhone Fold with an external screen at the same time, and completely cancel the external screen on the clamshell model, so there are still major variables in the specific form. At the same time, how to differentiate product positioning and functionality between book-style folding and clamshell-style folding is also one of Apple's key issues during the evaluation process.
Current signs show that Apple is still in the exploratory stage for the clamshell folding iPhone. The related projects may have advanced to the level of proofing and experimental verification, but it will still take a long time before final mass production and launch. According to the current time plan, even if Apple decides to bring this design to the market, the actual finished product may not be seen until after the end of 2027, and this will largely depend on the market response after the first book-style iPhone Fold is released in September 2026.