Apple may be looking beyond its long-rumoured foldable iPhone, with reports suggesting the company is also exploring a flip-style folding device.
The idea of a foldable iPhone is far from new. Rumours have circulated for years, even as competitors like Samsung have moved through multiple generations of foldable devices and recently unveiled more experimental designs. Despite this, Apple has yet to officially announce a folding phone.
Most recent speculation points to Apple launching its first foldable handset in the near future, likely using a book-style design commonly referred to as the iPhone Fold. However, new information suggests this may not be the only foldable form factor Apple has under consideration.
According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, Apple is also experimenting with a clamshell-style folding phone. Gurman reports that the device is currently in very early development and is not guaranteed to reach the market.
He notes that Apple is testing a square, flip-style foldable internally, with the company betting that its first foldable iPhone could generate enough demand to justify expanding into different shapes and sizes — similar to how traditional iPhones have evolved over time.
This isn’t the first time a flip-style iPhone has been mentioned. In 2024, The Information reported that Apple was working on multiple foldable prototypes, though the book-style design was said to be prioritised for the company’s first release.
Given how long foldable iPhone rumours have been circulating without a confirmed launch, a clamshell version could still be several years away. Even so, the continued reports suggest Apple is thinking seriously about how it might approach foldable devices beyond a single model.
If Apple does eventually introduce a flip-style iPhone, it would place it in direct competition with devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series, offering a more compact and pocket-friendly alternative to larger foldables.
For now, Apple’s foldable future remains uncertain — but increasingly ambitious.
