Here's Why There Won't Be an iPhone Flip Anytime Soon
Apple's decision to skip the clamshell form factor for its first foldable iPhone already appears to have been justified, several months before the rumored device is even expected to launch.
Counterpoint Research projects foldable panel shipments will jump 46% in 2026, driven almost entirely by book-style devices like Apple's upcoming "iPhone Fold," which is said to feature an outer display that opens to reveal a larger iPad mini-style internal screen. The report also reveals a shift in consumer preference, with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold outselling the Flip model in the second half of 2025 – a first for the series.
Apple has watched Samsung experiment with both formats for years before committing to the book-style form factor. That suggests Apple's own research confirmed what Counterpoint's data is now showing: People want tablet-like productivity from a foldable, rather than a smaller pocketable phone.
Even so, Samsung Display will still benefit – its panel market share is expected to climb past 50%, and the company is reportedly also supplying the panels for the iPhone Fold. But Samsung's mobile division may need to decide whether its Flip line has a future when Apple disrupts the foldable market.
While book-style foldables are expected to solidify their position as the dominant form factor in 2026, multi-fold panels like Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold will account for only low single-digit market share. The shift toward book-style designs is also expected to drive up average selling prices, making the category even more premium-focused.
Apple's iPhone Fold won't launch until around mid-September next year, but the data suggests even the mere expectation of its arrival is already reshaping the category.
Popular Stories
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras
Under-screen Face ID
Front camera in...
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones.
iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features.
Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen
A new slider in the Lock...
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows.
One Thing (Free) -...
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026.
Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers.
The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone that's set to come out in September 2026, and rumors suggest that it will have a display that's around 5.4 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. Exact measurements vary based on rumors, but one 3D designer has created a mockup based on what we've heard so far.
On MakerWorld, a user named Subsy has uploaded a 1:1 iPhone Fold replica (via Macworld), ...
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the iPhone mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
