If leaks are to be believed, then the rumoured iPhone Fold may re-introduce an iPhone feature we all thought was long-gone.
Newly surfaced dummy units of the so-called iPhone Fold (or iPhone Ultra) suggest Apple is bringing back Touch ID, and rethinking how you’ll actually use the device day to day.
According to the leaked units, the foldable iPhone will feature a side-mounted power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner, and won’t rely solely on Face ID. This is especially striking for a device that’s expected to blur the line between iPhone and iPad.
But it’s the button layout that really stands out. Instead of the usual side placement, the volume controls appear to be positioned along the top edge, which is somewhat an unusual move. However, it starts to make more sense when you consider how Apple seems to be prioritising the unfolded, tablet-like experience over the traditional phone form.
In landscape mode, essentially how you’d use the device when fully open, top-mounted buttons are easier to reach. Fold it shut, though, and it becomes a different story. Adjusting volume one-handed could feel awkward, especially if it means stretching to the top edge with your index finger.
That trade-off hints at Apple’s broader thinking here. Rather than treating the foldable as just another iPhone, it looks like the company is leaning into a mini iPad-style experience first. Even so, this shift might complicate things slightly in phone mode.
Elsewhere, the dummy units suggest the rest of the design stays fairly familiar. The standard iPhone 18 Pro, which appeared alongside the foldable in the same leak, reportedly sticks close to its predecessor. This makes the Fold the more experimental of the two by far.
Of course, these are still pre-release units, so there’s room for changes before anything goes official. Plus, remember that Apple hasn’t even confirmed the device.
Still, if this leak is anything to go by, Apple’s first foldable won’t just be about bending screens. It’s shaping up to be a rethink of how an iPhone should work altogether, even if that means bringing back a feature many thought was gone for good.
