Apple hasn’t even launched its first foldable yet, but the company’s already mapping out what comes next. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, engineers at Apple are exploring a clamshell-style foldable iPhone similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series.
The device is still in early concept stages and far from guaranteed to hit the market. Gurman describes it as a “square, clamshell-style foldable phone” that would unfold into a traditional iPhone size. Think Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola Razr, but with an Apple logo on the back.
This isn’t Apple’s first rodeo with flip phone prototypes. The Information reported back in 2024 that Apple had built multiple clamshell prototypes while figuring out how to enter the foldable market. At the time, Apple chose the larger book-style design instead, which is the foldable iPhone expected to launch later this year.
Why Apple’s betting on multiple foldable formats
The fact that Apple’s considering a second form factor suggests the company sees foldables as more than a one-off experiment. Gurman notes that Apple’s betting its first foldable iPhone will be successful enough to create real demand for the category, much like how traditional iPhones come in different sizes.
The first Apple iPhone flip will look like two iPhone Airs stuck together with a hinge. It’ll feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen when closed. Pricing is expected around $2,000, making it a premium device aimed at early adopters.
A clamshell version would offer something different: portability and pocketability rather than screen real estate. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099, significantly cheaper than book-style foldables, which could make a flip-style iPhone more accessible to mainstream buyers.
Interestingly, plans for a giant foldable iPad have reportedly hit development snags. Apple seems to have decided that if it’s going to bet on a hinge, the iPhone is the safer place to start. Suppliers have already begun stocking components for the 2026 launch of Apple’s first foldable.
Whether the clamshell concept makes it to market depends entirely on how well that first device performs. But the fact that Apple’s even exploring it shows the company’s serious about competing in the foldable space long-term.
