The small foldable iPhone rumor feels a lot more real with a rough 3D printed mockup based on recent leaks, made by Mac Rumors. The iPhone Fold is still expected in September 2026, but holding a physical model is a reminder that this would be Apple‘s biggest iPhone shape change since 2007.
The hook for small phone fans is the cover screen. The outside display is rumored around 5.3 to 5.5 inches, with one mockup using 5.49 inches. That puts the folded phone in the same neighborhood as the iPhone 13 mini, even if the hardware is doing something very different.
Open it up and the inner screen is said to land around 7.6 to 7.8 inches. MacRumors describes a short and wide, book style layout with a 4:3 aspect ratio. That would be smaller than an iPad mini overall, but still larger than any iPhone display so far.
The pocketable part is the selling point
If Apple really wants to win back people who miss smaller phones, this is the most important rumor. The folded device could be shorter than Samsung’s Galaxy Fold phones, which hints at a squat, easy-to-grip shape.
Still, pocket comfort is not just about a diagonal number. A separate look at the rumored short and wide footprint argues it could feel great in your hand but sit awkwardly in tighter pockets depending on folded width and thickness.
The mini tradeoffs don’t disappear
A foldable design can bring back a compact carry without forcing you to live on a tiny screen all day. But you’ll still rely on the cover display for quick replies, maps, and one handed scrolling, so Apple’s software choices matter as much as the hardware.
The iPhone 13 mini comparison is useful because it shows what can go wrong, cramped UI moments and battery compromises depending on how you use it. That tension is still there, even if the inside screen gives you an escape hatch.
What to watch next
MacRumors is clear the mockup is not exact. The hinge is a placeholder, thickness rumors vary around 4.8mm unfolded and possibly 4.5mm, and the camera area is still unknown. If Apple can deliver an almost invisible crease, the hinge could end up being the real headline.
One more practical wrinkle is availability. Another report suggests supply could be tight enough that buying one easily might slip into 2027 even if Apple talks about it in 2026.