Foldable iPhone, the size war

According to the latest leaks gathered by the reputable and reliable website The Information, the first foldable iPhone, expected to be released in late 2026, will have a 5.3" external screen, smaller than that of Apple's smallest smartphone, the iPhone Mini. This information corroborates previous rumors but simultaneously contradicts another wave of leaks that have been circulating for many months. A 4:3 internal screen for the foldable iPhone? On one hand, we have the combination of a 5.3" external screen and a 7.58" internal screen, and on the other, the combination of 5.5" and 7.76", more traditional dimensions for this type of device. Based on the dimensions provided by The Information, Ben Geskin at X designed a cardboard model (see photo) giving an idea of what this unusually sized iPhone would look like. If this information proves accurate, Apple would have opted for a 4:3 aspect ratio. A 4:3 aspect ratio for the internal screen makes it easier to adapt the multitasking features already present on the iPad. The trade-off for this choice is a less conventional and smaller external screen than those of the competition, showing that Apple is leaning more towards a small tablet with a secondary screen (for notifications and other minimal interactions), rather than a smartphone with a tablet as a bonus.