Apple Reportedly Exploring Clamshell-Designed ‘iPhone Flip’, With Company Hopes iPhone Fold Can Generate ‘Real Demand’ So It Can Pursue This Form Factor

The iPhone Fold could introduce a new clamshell form factor from Apple, as the company is said to be expanding its product portfolio in this category and taking on its biggest rival, Samsung, in the process. The device in question is the iPhone Flip, and while this isn’t its official name, the tech giant is exploring launching it in the near future. However, whether that happens depends largely on how successful its first foldable phone is when it launches later this year alongside the high-end iPhone 18 model.

The iPhone Flip will provide far less utility than the iPhone Fold, but the launch of the iPhone Fold could act as a catalyst that will encourage customers to upgrade.

Seeing how Samsung first launched a book-style foldable smartphone, Apple is following a similar approach with the iPhone Fold. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in the latest edition of its ‘Power On’ newsletter that the Cupertino company is betting on its first model bringing enough demand momentum that the launch of the iPhone Flip becomes economically viable.

“This product is far from guaranteed to reach the market. However, Apple is confident that its first foldable iPhone will be successful enough to generate real demand for the category and that customers will want the added shape and size, just as they have with a traditional iPhone.”

This is not the first time the iPhone Flip design has been discussed. Apple was previously reported to be targeting a 2028 launch for its clamshell foldable phone, and considering it’s likely to cost less than the iPhone Fold and ship with the latest and greatest internals, customers may be forced to upgrade. Of course, knowing Apple, the company has likely set very ambitious sales targets for the iPhone Fold, meaning there’s a good chance the iPhone Flip will never launch.

Plus, the last thing Apple needs is a product lineup in disarray where sales increases of one iPhone cannibalize another, so this will be a tough challenge for the California-based giant. As always, we will continue to provide our readers with timely updates, so stay tuned.

News Source: Bloomberg

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