Apple says ‘Fold’ and competitors ask ‘how wide?’
Apple is expected to announce its first foldable iPhone, adopting a 'passport-sized' form factor that has recently become popular among Android competitors. The move highlights Apple's continued influence on industry design trends despite entering the foldable market years after rivals.
Why it matters
Apple's entry into the foldable market could validate the form factor for the mass market and shift consumer expectations for smartphone design.
Apple is almost certain to launch its first foldable iPhone tomorrow, seven years after Samsung’s Galaxy Fold initially went on sale. And while Apple might be a few years late to the party, the run-up to this launch proves that new CEO John Ternus has inherited a company that’s as influential as it’s ever been.
Tomorrow’s iPhone event is likely to be a little different than what we’re used to. For one, the arrival of some iPhone 18 models will likely be delayed — the Pros will be available first, but the regular 18 is supposedly set to launch early next year instead. But leaks and rumors have consistently suggested that Apple will instead pair the release of its Pros with the first foldable iPhone, which is likely to be short, squat, and wide, about the size and shape of a passport.
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