Yes, it really just needs to copy Samsung, ASUS and others.
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No matter how you feel about the , which flip down horizontally, and larger devices like . An "iPhone Flip" could potentially satisfy people demanding a new Sam Rutherford for Engadget
What would an "iPhone Flip" look like? Apple wouldn't have to stray far from the template laid out by Samsung and others. Take an iPhone 17, then imagine casually folding the top down, just like how we used to close older cellphones. Also like Samsung's devices, an iPhone Flip would need a small external display to glance at notifications and handle basic tasks, like taking a selfie with its rear cameras.
Such a design wouldn't be an exotic innovation for Apple. Small foldables have been around for six years now; they've been practically normalized. They typically cost half as much as large foldable smartphones (and in many cases even less). Anecdotally, I've also noticed many "normie" smartphone users toting the Z Flip or Moto Razr, whereas I rarely see the Z Fold being used by non-techies.
While Apple is rumored to be working on Sam Rutherford for Engadget
When it comes to a foldable iPad, Apple also has room to do far more than ASUS or Lenovo, both of which are stuck building for Windows. Based on what we've seen of the iPhone Duo, Apple has thought deeply about how to juggle apps and functionality across folding screens. As usual, it has the software edge. An iPad Fold could replicate the look of the iPhone Duo by having a smaller iPad Mini-sized screen up front, and a larger screen internally. But I could also see Apple forgoing the external display entirely for cost reasons. Personally, I'd want a device like this for its fullscreen tablet and folded, pseudo-laptop modes.
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When fully opened, it could work just like any iPad today. But imagine folding it in half and using the top half as a laptop screen, while the bottom is reserved for a touchscreen keyboard with haptic feedback. Or you could use that folded formation to multitask: Play a YouTube video up top, while juggling between Slack and hand-written notes on the bottom half. I could also imagine having it stand up vertically while still folded in half, giving you taller windows for multi-tasking. Slap on a wireless keyboard, and it's practically like having a super-light mini-desktop
Both ASUS and Lenovo relied on large 16.3-inch OLED screens for their foldable tablets, but I don't think Apple needs to go that large. A 13-inch foldable iPad Pro would still be pretty useful when cut in half. A smaller 11-inch iPad Fold could be a great portable journal, similar to the