Inside the hinge, the screen would bow out in a sense, creating more of a gradual curve than a hard crease. In February 2020, one Apple patent emerged that would theoretically allow the foldable display to bend in the middle without creating excessive stress on the panel. While flexible panels are all the rage these days, dual-screen hardware could ultimately win out if Apple isn't enamored with the reliability, durability or cost of a device with a single, folding screen. There's no guarantee Apple will launch such a handset, of course, but Prosser's report reminds us that the firm's first foldable phone could play out a number of ways. There's also been speculation that the display could "heal" itself thanks to a "self-healing material" layer that would minimize the appearance of scratched or dents. That support layer could even be made of glass or sapphire for additional strength. It would be specifically designed for a flexible display, and consist of four layers: a cover layer, a hardcoat layer, an inner surface, and a transparent support layer.
We saw a patent in October 2020 which suggested the iPhone Flip could come with an upgraded version of the iPhone's ceramic shield. (Image credit: Technology Aesthetics/YouTube) iPhone Flip: Durability It's a design we could envision Apple actually releasing, at least with more fine-tuning beyond the rough idea presented here. Take this 3D mockup posted by a YouTube account called #iOS beta news which looks a little bit like a Galaxy Z Flip copycat, down to its slim bezels, centrally-positioned hole-punch camera cutout, minimal exterior display and vertical orientation. Those patents don't mention a phone specifically, so Apple could also be mulling a foldable tablet.Īll that feeds the imagination of designers who post concept renderings depicting possible looks for the iPhone Flip/Fold. And going back even further back to 2016, we can see one of the earliest foldable iPhone patents, courtesy of MacRumors, depicting a vertically-folding handset similar in orientation to the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Motorola Razr.Ī pair of patents won by Apple cover durable foldable displays as well as a foldable screen with textured flexible areas. If we go back to beyond 2020, we can see earlier musings on foldable designs from Apple, including a patent for a tri-folding display.
#APPLE SECONDARY DISPLAY PRO#
Yet another patent, originally filed in the second quarter of 2018 and subsequently unearthed by PatentlyApple, depicts a device with a flexible display that folds closed yet still leaves a small strip at the bottom exposed for easy access to notifications and contextual information. Think of it like a miniature Touch Bar, similar to what's available on the MacBook Pro M2 and older MacBook models. iPhone Flip design: What will it look like? The idea behind the patent is the Flip's hinge will start to close mid-drop, and shift the balance of the phone and avoid having the screen hit the ground and being damaged. Interestingly a patent also suggests Apple could grant the iPhone Flip a measure of self-preservation should it ever be dropped. This kind of screen wouldn't be as reactive as an LCD or OLED panel, but it would be great for keeping battery consumption low. Kuo has also said that Apple's thinking about using color e-ink displays for the exterior display on foldables. That would dwarf any foldable phone on the market right now. An 8-inch display would also be nearly as large as the 8.3-inch iPad mini.Ī different report claims Apple could be working with LG on a 7.5-inch OLED foldable display panel.īut that's not all - another report from Kuo says that Apple is testing a 9-inch display for a foldable. That would be larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which offers a 7.6 inch display when it's opened up. Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the first foldable iPhone will have a huge display measuring 8 inches.
Skepticism here is the healthiest outlook. Suffice to say, no one knows if or when an iPhone Flip will show up. However, a report from Ming-Chi Kuo states that a foldable iPhone may not arrive until 2025. Another analyst, Ben Wood, believes we will at least get a foldable iPad before then. That said, even Young believes that 2024 is probably the more likely launch year for such a device. Display analyst Ross Young, who has a track record for being accurate with such tips, has suggested Apple could introduce a foldable iPhone in 2023.
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