This iPhone Flip concept is the foldable we want Apple to make

iPhone Flip concept
(Image credit: ConceptsiPhone)

Apple is rumored to be working on an iPhone Flip, the name coined for what is set to be Cupertino’s first foldable phone. But other than a few leaks we’ve not had much in the way of design leaks to give us a strong idea of what the phone could look like.

However, a clamshell flip phone has been hinted at, and that’s been enough for YouTube channel ConceptsiPhone to cook up a render of what the iPhone Flip could potentially look like. And we’re rather taken by this design, especially as it has features we want the iPhone 13 to come with.  

Currently, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the darling of the foldable clamshell smartphones, mostly because it’s the only one that’s widely available and delivers impressive performance, specs and features. And that means there's plenty of scope for rival phones to enter the foldables fray. 

ConceptsiPhone’s renders presents a compelling design that could see Apple take on Samsung when it comes to foldable phones - if and when it decides to enter the market.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

The render looks very much like a standard iPhone 12 that effectively folds in half vertically. That might not seem like cutting-edge innovation. But we’d challenge anyone not to look favorably on the slick flat edges of the iPhone 12, and putting them on a foldable just makes sense.

iPhone Flip concept

(Image credit: ConceptsiPhone)

But there’s more to the renders than just a folding display. Most notably it envisions an under-display take on Touch ID, which was rumored to be coming to the iPhone 13, but now seems like it’ll be an iPhone 14 feature

This is one feature we’d really like to see make an appearance on future iPhones, folding or otherwise, as during a time where mask wearing is prolific and causes problems for Face ID, having an alternative biometric security option would be ideal.  One rumor says Apple is testing Face ID to work with masks, but we don't know if that will be ready in time for the iPhone 13. 

iPhone Flip concept

(Image credit: ConceptsiPhone)

The other notable part of the iPhone Flip render is the shrunken display notch. This is very much something we’re hoping will make its debut in the iPhone 13. Since the iPhone X, the display notch has remained the same size. 

And while it holds a suite of powerful sensors, it’s now getting rather long in the tooth, especially when under-display front-facing cameras are starting to arrive in more phones; see our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review for a lowdown on its under-display camera. 

iPhone Flip concept

(Image credit: ConceptsiPhone)

Other key features the render envisions the iPhone Flip having include a “120Hz ProMotion Liquid Retina XDR display,“ something akin to what we hope to see in the iPhone 13, or the iPhone 13 Pro at least. 

And ConceptsiPhone’s video casually suggests the iPhone Flip could have an Apple M1 chip, which we feel would be a tad optimistic given that’s really a MacBook or iPad Pro 2021-grade chip; an iPhone Flip is likely to use the latest A-series chipset. 

iPhone Flip concept

(Image credit: ConceptsiPhone)

So taking an iPhone 12, adding in a large display that folds and has a smaller notch and a new take on Touch ID is enough to pique our curiosity. However, there’s a caveat.

According to the rumros so far, Apple isn’t set to make a foldable phone until 2023. This was further corroborated by DSCC. So while this imagined version of the iPhone Flip might look good for 2021 or 2022 standards, we’re hoping that two years down the line Apple will have a fresher iPhone design to work with, as well as a notchless iPhone.

With that in mind, if the iPhone Flip does indeed arrive in two years time, we’d expect it to look rather different than the render here. Time will tell.

TOPICS
Roland Moore-Colyer

Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face. 

Read more
iPhone Flip foldable iPhone
iPhone Flip: Everything we know about Apple's foldable phone plans
iPhone flip potential render
iPhone Flip: Has Apple already missed its moment to make a foldable phone?
iPhone Flip Concept
Apple foldable iPhone leaker just tipped a crazy big 12-inch screen — here's all the details
Foldable iPhone concept image
Foldable iPhone leaker just tipped size of both displays
iPhone Flip render
iPhone Flip could solve one of the biggest problems with foldable phones — here's how
iPhone Flip Concept
Apple's iPhone Flip may have just gotten one step closer to reality
Latest in iPhones
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Siri in iOS 18 on iPhone
Users complain that Siri can’t answer even the most basic questions — here’s what we know
iPhone 16 next to samsung galaxy watch 7 and bose wireless earbuds on a composite image
Apple's walled garden is crumbling — EU orders iOS to open up to third-party devices
Apple iPhone 16 & 16 Plus hands-on.
Forget USB-C — a truly portless iPhone just got the all-clear from the EU
iPhone Flip render
iPhone Flip could solve one of the biggest problems with foldable phones — here's how
iPhone 17 Air concept image
iPhone 17 Air just tipped for exclusive upgrade regular iPhone 17 won't get
Latest in News
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S25 Plus vs S25
Satellite messaging on Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 just landed on 3 more carriers
L-R: Claude (Marco Calvani), Danny (Colman Domingo), Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte) have their bags packed for Netflix's "The Four Seasons"
Netflix just teased a new comedy series starring Tina Fey, Steve Carrell and Colman Domingo — and we already have a release date
back of Iris Pixel 9a
The Google Pixel 9a is lacking one of the Pixel 9’s best safety features — here’s what we know
Razer Blade
Nvidia's DLSS 4 demo in a Razer Balde 16 with RTX 5090 gives me hope again for next-gen gaming laptops
Striped lawn
Expert reveals the kitchen waste item that can help you create a green and healthy lawn
Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones sit on the hood of a truck in "Twisters"
Prime Video top 10 movies — here's the 3 worth watching now