A foldable iPhone may be closer to reality than ever before. Longtime Apple designer Sonny Dickson shared Monday what appears to be a 3D CAD rendering of the rumored device. While the post didn’t provide any proof that this was an official offering from Apple, the design is as restrained as you’d expect from the company. And the images are in line with a different CAD leak from December published by GSMArena, making this the most proven look at the device we’ve seen yet.
The rendering shows a book-style foldable iPhone, with a wide aspect ratio, that looks like a tablet when opened, similar to the iPad Mini. While exact dimensions weren’t included, the dimensions appear to be similar to those reported in previous CAD leaks, which show a square, passport-sized phone when folded like the original Google Pixel Fold. That alone will make Apple’s foldable phone stand out from the long, thin stand taken by foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) March 9, 2026
The back looks like a hybrid of iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air. It has a raised rectangular camera platform, with two cameras, and the Apple logo centered on a square frame that sits flush with the rest of the phone. The two outer corners appear rounded, while the hinge side appears more square. There’s also a selfie camera covered in a mirror cover, but there are no hints as to what kind of camera is hiding inside the enclosure.
If the leak turns out to be real, it could also indicate Apple’s timeline for the launch of the wrap. CAD files are often created very late in the development process, making a September launch alongside the iPhone 18 possible. These files are often shared with tool makers to start designing cases.
But it is not a guarantee that the device will be shipped as shown, or at all. Although it’s rare, Apple has been known to shelve projects too far into development when they’re not ready for launch (like the Apple Car). Details may change between this section and the final hardware.
A mockup of the iPhone Fold, based on an unauthorized CAD rendering from Sonny Dickson.
Adding weight to these rumors is the supply chain work already underway. Apple has reportedly chosen Samsung Display as the exclusive supplier of foldable OLED panels for the device, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. This is an unusual move for a company that usually distributes production across multiple vendors. Samsung has been chosen for its technological leadership in reducing creases on the screen, a detail that Apple reportedly prioritizes, as reported by Digital Trends. Mass production of the displays is said to begin in mid-2026, coinciding with Apple’s usual hardware launch window.
To say that Apple is late to the folding party is an understatement. Samsung launched its first Galaxy Fold in 2019 and is now in its seventh generation, along with six generations of Galaxy Z Flip clamshell devices, and the TriFold debuts in 2026. Meanwhile, last week’s CES and Mobile World Congress saw a wave of new foldables from competitors across the price range. Apple has been watching from the sidelines for six years.
But that’s kind of an Apple thing. The company rarely leads the division from the first line; it waits, refines and redefines to release a niche product (with rare exceptions — looking at you, HomePod). If the iPhone Fold arrives this fall as expected, it won’t just be Apple entering the folding race; it can be an industry-wide catalyst.
