Homemade folding iPhone shows Apple how foldable phones are done

Foldable phones are all the rage, but Apple's iPhone is yet to get the clamshell treatment

A render of the foldable iPhone
(Image credit: 科技美学)

If you're up to date with the best foldable phones, you'll know that one brand is notably absent from the conversation: Apple. While rumours have persisted of a foldable iPhone and even a foldable iPad, nothing has been officially revealed, or even leaked from a truly reputable source.

That hasn't stopped the online rumour mill from turning, though. Fans of Apple are keen to see what the Cupertino-based company can muster up. And with good reason. The iPhone – from the vanilla iPhone 14 up to the iPhone 14 Pro Max – is widely regarded as one of the best phones you can buy.

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iPhone 折叠全球首发!「科技美学」iPhoneV first iPhone foldable iPhone fold iPhone flip iPhone folding@KJMX - YouTube iPhone 折叠全球首发!「科技美学」iPhoneV first iPhone foldable iPhone fold iPhone flip iPhone folding@KJMX - YouTube
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They call it the iPhone V, and the video ends with it working well. They even manage to adapt the operating system to account for some of the foibles of a foldable device, such as how the camera looks at 90°.

It's a hugely primitive design – the sides of the screen don't even meet up with the chassis, leaving a wide gap when folded – but the ingenuity has to be applauded. In the video, the designer talks through some of the issues and limitations of the design, and how they overcame them. Those issues range from breaking screens, to having to create a smaller battery to fit the thinness of the case.

How Apple will enter the world of foldable devices remains to be seen, but this will certainly pique the interest of fans. It's popular too. The YouTube channel who posted it routinely see around 3-5k views per video, with a few anomalies around 10-20k. Just two days after this was released, it's already hit 175k views and climbing.

Such is the popularity of Apple and of their impending venture into foldable devices. For now though, it's China 1 - 0 Cupertino.

Sam Cross
Senior Staff Writer

Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.

Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.

He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.

Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.