A leaker, Instant Digital, has claimed that Apple has abandoned the iPhone Flip model, claiming it is an "unnecessary" design and lacks marketable reason for it. The claim was made in an automated translation on Weibo, indicating that Apple employees believe the Flip's design is too thin and restricts internal space for components. Other reports suggest that the Flip is still in development, with patent filings dating back to 2016 showing a device resembling an iPhone Flip. However, the claim is doubtful as Apple's focus on making smaller devices would be better served by making current iPhone-style devices thinner.