iPhone Fold and future Galaxy foldable may end up copying the original Pixel Fold

Ben Schoon | Dec 22 2025 - 6:30 am PT

After Google pivoted away from its stout book-like foldable form factor found in the original Pixel Fold, Apple’s coming iPhone Fold and a future Samsung foldable may just end up copying the same idea.

The original Pixel Fold launched in 2023 as a device that, while impressive for a first go, was a little underwhelming in the long run due to issues with overheating. But the form factor was relatively unique in the market at the time, with a small and wide outer display that opened to a wider internal canvas. It was the exact opposite of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold template of the time, which offered a very narrow outer display that produced a portrait-optimized inner display which, admittedly, is still better for apps. For its second and third generations, Google walked back its unique design for something more akin to Samsung’s route.

But it seems the market may given the “passport” style foldable another try.

ETNews reports that Apple’s upcoming iPhone Fold, whatever it may end up being called, will adopt a 4:3 aspect ratio for the inner display, matching that of the iPad. Samsung is also now working on a “wide fold” with the same inner display aspect ratio. Google’s original Pixel Fold had a 6:5 aspect, ratio, just a bit taller than 4:3, so it stands to reason that these form factors from Apple and Samsung would both look a lot like the original Pixel Fold both when opened and closed.

Advertisement - scroll for more content

The report (via @Jukanlosreve) goes on to detail that Apple would be using a 7.58-inch inner display and Samsung would have a 7.6-inch panel, with a 5.4-inch display on the outside of the Galaxy device. By comparison, the original Pixel Fold had a 5.8-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display.

Meanwhile, Apple’s device is apparently still working on its “crease-free” design.

9to5Google’s Take

So why, after the entire Android market went all-in on taller foldable form factors, are we going back to the original Pixel Fold’s design?

Top comment by bull3964

Liked by 13 people

"The inner display of an iPhone Fold matching that of the iPad immediately unlocks an app library that Android foldables can currently only dream of"

Except, it doesn't. I'm really tired of repeating this over and over again, but I own both an iPad Pro and Android tablets and the app support of large displays on the average app isn't all that better and is sometimes even worse (MUCH MUCH WORSE) if there's no iPadOS version of an app. It's true that Apple has a few very specific app niches that have very nice large screen format support, but they are the things that dominate the headlines. Drawing, notetaking, and video/photo editing are the power apps that have great large format support on the iPad, but your average app isn't exactly setting the world on fire with large format support and I don't think those niches are going to be the prime use cases for a foldable iPhone.

But that leads to the next elephant in the room, what OS is this iPhone Fold going to be running? If it's iOS, then all those iPad OS specific apps may not run on it. If it's iPadOS, then that's going to have its own challenges. It's possible they may launch yet a different version of their os (iFoldOS) that blends elements of both. Regardless, there's no denying the fact that Apple has created this distinct wall between Phone and Tablet with their operating system and app libraries that poses some interesting transition problems for a foldable device with a larger screen.

View all comments

I think it all comes down to the apps.

For years now, I’ve been arguing that Samsung’s original take on the Fold’s inner display aspect ratio is the right choice for apps right now. Many Android apps haven’t been updated for proper tablet support, and on a widescreen foldable display like that of the original Pixel Fold, that was a hindrance to the entire experience. It’s very much the reason why Google was right to change its design in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. But as Google has continually invested in bolstering Android’s tablet app selection, it might be the right time to give this forgotten form factor another shot.

That same reason, though, is why it’s an absolute no-brainer for Apple to be going down this route. The inner display of an iPhone Fold matching that of the iPad immediately unlocks an app library that Android foldables can currently only dream of, though I’d imagine some apps will need scaling updates – not that Apple ever has trouble getting developers on board with new ideas, even the bad ones.