A 6.7-inch Foldable iPhone? A Practical Guide to Folding Microphones in the Gadolinium Era: The Case of the Galaxy Z Fold

But foldables aren’t just more popular—they’re more mature too. The latest models are far more refined and more durable than the clumsy early attempts. Samsung has spent the past six years publicly tweaking its folding smartphones—every year has brought small changes to the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series, improving the durability of the screen and the reliability of the hinge. These are the biggest failures of the early days of foldables, but glass technology and hinge engineering has brought them closer to a level of quality that matches what a traditional smartphone would look like. Samsung’s latest models have IP48 water- and dust-resistance ratings, and while it’s still not as dust-resistant as its nonfolding counterparts, it’s one step bringing it closer.

Samsung is even offering a free replacement screen protector on its folding devices if you scratch the internal screen one year from your purchase date, or a reduced $200 screen repair price if you crack the display two years from the date you bought it. It makes it simpler to drop cash on a phone with a hinge.

Still, it is so much easier to recommend the Flip6 to anyone. Who doesn’t want a tiny phone in their pocket that expands to a 6.7-inch screen with a flick? The battery life, thanks to a beefier 4,000-mAh cell, is a little better, though it requires a once-a-day charge with average use. On busy days, like when I walked throughout Montparnasse in Paris for half the day, I had to borrow someone’s charger so I wasn’t stranded without a phone.

Apple has reportedly tested products in two sizes, but this greenlit project is for a folding flip phone, much like the Razr from Motorola or Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6. These flip phones can be used to carry a full-size cell phone in a pocket or bag. You get the same smartphone experience but in a tiny package. You can imagine that an internal “cover screen” is where Apple will likely create a way to access certain features.

According to a report from The Information, a folding iPhone might be on the horizon in 2026, which would make the Android world jealous.