Is the foldable, clamshell iPhone "useless" for Apple?

Rumors about the arrival of a foldable iPhone have been circulating for a few years now, and should materialize this year with the arrival of a model that unfolds like a book to become a small tablet, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold. However, uncertainty remained for some time regarding the form factor of this first model: book-style, or clamshell like the Galaxy Z Flip. Apple ultimately opted for the former because a clamshell model was deemed "unnecessary" internally. This is what the Chinese leaker Instant Digital revealed, explaining that the main selling point of a clamshell model is its small size when folded. And Apple has already tried and failed with the small size concept with the iPhone Mini, which did not achieve the expected success. Another drawback of this design is the central divider, which takes up space and therefore occupies room for other important components, such as the battery or cameras. However, Apple is still working on this iPhone Flip and could potentially release it if the first model proves popular.