Rumors around the foldable iPhone come and go, with fresh news and leaks appearing every few months (rather than every few weeks like Apple’s flagship products like the iPhone 15).
That doesn’t mean the company’s first foldable phone isn’t in the works.Samsung’s already popular models like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 are joined by Huawei, Motorola, Xiaomi, Oppo, With the exciting addition of Honor’s products, Foldables is rapidly entering its golden age. Apple will participate in this action.
It’s unclear how long Apple has been working on a foldable phone (which could eventually be called the iPhone Flip, iPhone Fold, or something else entirely), but the tech giant has been working on it. Known for keeping plans secret until they are ready to reveal them. It’s the level of sophistication we expect from Apple.
But when it does, the foldable iPhone could be a game changer. There’s an old opinion that the smartphone era didn’t arrive until the first iPhone came out in 2007. While this oversimplifies the evolution of the phone, it also speaks to how Apple’s product design influences the overall market.
The aforementioned phone makers have yet to solve some of the big problems facing foldable devices, such as display durability and battery life.
Below, we’ve compiled everything we’ve heard (admittedly, this isn’t a big deal right now).
get to the point
- what is that? Possibility of Apple’s first foldable smartphone
- When are you coming out? Likely as early as 2025
- How much will it cost? expected to be expensive
Foldable iPhone release date and price
A 2021 source said the foldable iPhone wouldn’t arrive until 2023 at the earliest, but the current assumption (based on multiple rumors) is that the iPhone Fold is (actually in development). advanced), at least 2025.
It may be a while before the foldable iPhone hits the market, but given how well the company hides its new design, the device could be further ahead than we think. .
Of course, we don’t know how much the foldable iPhone will cost when it lands, but given the demand for many foldable phones is well over $1000 / £1000 / AU$2000. It is safe to expect high prices to be paid, one price leak offal So far it has shown figures of $2,500 (about £2,220 / AU$3,970), so we recommend saving now.
As for the name, I’ve heard tweets that it could be called the iPhone Flip. This could refer to patents like the Galaxy Z Flip, which hint at a clamshell folding format. But really, it can be called anything.
Foldable iPhone leaks and rumors
At this point, foldable iPhone rumors are largely split into two camps. One faction suggests the device will feature a true foldable display, and the other suggests it will have two different screens separated by a hinge.
there were several designs clearly In a patent dump published in February 2019, some have a large display inside a folding section with a single hinge, while others have two hinges for a virtual three displays that fold in a Z shape. Some were equipped with
image 1 of 3
Other such patents discovered (opens in new tab) In March 2020, Apple revealed that it may be working on a foldable device with two different displays separated by a hinge. The patented design suggests the tech giant is trying to minimize the bezels between screens as much as possible, but it still stands out more than a truly folded, long display.
That’s the leaker John Prosser was suggested (opens in new tab) Same year on Twitter: Apple’s foldable iPhone design (at the time) had two separate display panels on the hinge.
Apple’s “foldable” iPhones aren’t actually foldable. 🧐 The current prototype has two separate display panels on the hinge. Rounded stainless steel edges like the current iPhone 11 design.June 15, 2020
It is said that this is just a “current prototype” and not the final design, but it will have rounded edges like the iPhone 11, unlike the square edges of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. It has been.
The sensor that checks Face ID will be housed in a “small plaque” on the outer display, Prosser said.
This coincides with a later Prosser leak that suggested the iPhone Flip could come in a clamshell shape similar to the Motorola Razr 2020 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and the same source said it will be sold in “fun colors.” It says it will.
We think this means we can expect bold hues when the iPhone Flip lands.
Thanks to another patent, we’ve seen another image of what a foldable iPhone might look like. This shows a device that folds into a larger device like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. The device is called the iPhone Fold. has one display longer than the other, so notifications appear on one end when folded closed.
According to another leak, the foldable iPhone could come with Apple Pencil support and a 7.3-inch or 7.6-inch display. Apple is expected to create a clamshell device first, but such devices may also be developed.
We’ve also heard from analysts that Apple is testing an electronic paper display (EPD) made by E Ink for the cover screens of its flip phones. It’s similar to the screen on an e-reader, but it’s in color and you can keep it on for a long time without using too much battery.
Apple’s foldable smartphones have a protective layer on top of the screen to prevent cracking and can even fill existing microcracks to prevent fractures. Apple has patented this technology, so at least the company is tinkering.
Elsewhere, an Apple patent details a slim yet strong hinge that could be used in smartphones with flexible displays. , more evidence that an iPhone Fold or iPhone Flip may be in development.
Additionally, a report suggests that Apple has two foldable iPhone designs that have passed durability tests. This doesn’t mean this will happen anytime soon, but it’s a good sign that Apple is on the right track.
The latest Apple patent we saw details touch-sensitive solid-state buttons that allow users to navigate the foldable iPhone using its edges rather than just the display. Alongside a basic diagram of the device (below), Apple has touch sensors inside “sidewalls” (as opposed to traditional walls) made up of “thin metal lines small enough to be invisible.” describes how the are arranged.
It’s a design element rumored to be coming to the upcoming iPhone 15 line as well.
In addition to all the leaks, we’ve also seen a prototype of the iPhone Flip, essentially unofficially made by a team in China. See image below.
image 1 of Four
There were a lot of compromises in making it, but if Apple’s foldable design resembles the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip line, it could look like a sleeker version of this.
iPhone Flip: 5 things we want to see
1. First-class camera
Foldables bridge the gap between phones and tablets, but releases like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate Xs feature some of the best cameras found on these brands’ other flagship phones. I’m here.
There’s no reason to speculate that Apple wouldn’t do the same, but the tech giant hasn’t bothered to upgrade the iPad’s camera in generations. Plus, given that the iPhone SE 2020 didn’t improve on the lens of its predecessor, the iPhone 8, Apple decided to give the foldable iPhone a single camera instead of the full suite found in today’s best iPhones. We have set the precedent that we can give.
2. Apple pencil support
One easy way for Apple to compete with other foldable devices is by introducing support for the Apple Pencil. Samsung has introduced stylus integration with the Z Fold series. Given how the Apple Pencil 2 magnetically attaches to the latest iPad Pro tablet, we’re excited to see how Apple’s stylus can integrate with the foldable iPhone.
3. Old apple polish
Yes, we say it: The first few rounds of the foldable were impressive for simply pulling the foldable screen apart, but there were design weaknesses, from hinge issues to screen cracks. We want to see a design where everything runs smoothly and can withstand punishment.
Like crackable iPhone displays and malfunctioning butterflies, Apple’s lineup isn’t impeccable keyboardand battery– Appeared throttling on older iPhones. But at least when it comes to looks and features, Apple has maintained a reputation for sleek, functional designs.
4. iPadOS integration
When iPadOS split off from iOS, I was excited about the possibility of a new operating system forking and truly taking advantage of the iPad’s screen real estate. So far, I’m pretty happy with the multitasking feature, which lets me launch multiple apps at the same time. I personally found this useful for writing to Google Docs while searching in Safari, for example..
For the same reason, we’d love to see a version of the OS on the foldable iPhone, but of course there’s a lot of unknowns. Is the device’s display big enough to handle the iPadOS controls well? If you can extend it to the iPad Mini’s screen size of 7.9 inches, it’s probably possible, but until we see what the foldable looks like , it’s unclear how well iPadOS will fit.
5. Strong battery life
Foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X have decent battery life for first-generation devices, but we expect more from Apple’s take on foldable phones. Yes. In general, iPhones are not known to last more than a day. Samsung and Huawei’s flagships seem to have big capacity (in milliamp-hours) batteries that can easily last more than a day.
We want Apple to use our extra device space to make our own foldable devices outlast the competition.
Watch the video here: Foldable iPhone: the latest rumors, news and everything we know so far
