Apple Continuing Work on Folding iPhones, No Launch Until at Least 2026

[AlastorKatriona]

What makes a foldable iPad attractive? Genuine question.

In theory? Or in reality? Because these are 2 different things.

In theory, you can have a large iPad (which is more usable, because it's large) that is more portable when folded (because it's small).

But that's about as far as the theoretical benefit goes. In reality, the very idea gimps the product as it has to be entirely designed around this. The creases and hinges are nightmare additions. The more portable shape is still much larger than a pocketable device, so it's not really more portable at all. If it has to go in a bag instead of a pocket, who cares how big or small it is when folded. To make it pocketable means the unfolded state is still way too small to be useful. It basically means an iPad mini that is folded in half to fit in your pocket. But who the hell wants an on-the-go iPad mini? Hardly anyone, by virtue of its sales history. The end product is too large to be an iPhone, and too small to be a (good) iPad.

 

[mrr]

I had Kyocera Palm OS flip phone.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

I believe we will see both clamshell and book-style folding iPhones in 2026. Android OEMs can currently make very thin book-style folding smartphones. I'm confident Apple can figure this out as well.

I don't believe in this notion of a folding iPad Mini. People want that device, but they want it as an iPhone, not iPad.

Have you ever touched one of those crappy Android foldables?

They're terrible. The plastic screen feels like running your finger across a vinyl shower curtain, and after about a week of use the crease is VERY noticeable. They rarely last longer than six months without looking like complete ass. I'd be amazed if Samsung isn't losing money on them, because most don't make until the end of the warranty before the screen fails.

No, you do not want a foldable iPad or iPhone.

 

[iamgalt]

Apple purportedly concluded that the device could be thicker than a foldable iPhone since users would not expect to carry it in their pocket

With regards to a foldable iPad; if people aren't going to carry it in their pocket, then why does it need to be foldable? Also, isn't a Macbook Air basically a foldable iPad, but with a different OS?

 

[blairh]

Have you ever touched one of those crappy Android foldables?

They're terrible. The plastic screen feels like running your finger across a vinyl shower curtain, and after about a week of use the crease is VERY noticeable. They rarely last longer than six months without looking like complete ass. I'd be amazed if Samsung isn't losing money on them, because most don't make until the end of the warranty before the screen fails.

No, you do not want a foldable iPad or iPhone.

Complete nonsense.

 

[bunty]

More than a few times I've been at meetings for projects with the "VIP's" and they proudly place their foldable samsung or whatever on the table, unfolding it in the process, then during the meeting their spouse or kids call and they pull out their iphone to answer it. Cracks me up every time.

 

[DarthDon]

Imagine folding a IPhone Pro. With that cam it will be 2 inches thick 🤣

 

[blindzero]

I thought I saw a foldable iPhone prototype in the wild at a concert in NY last August...Dude kept holding it up to record and it had the iOS look to the icons and the camera app. I assumed it was just someone modifying their Android but thought slightly possible there might be some sort of sneak announcement.

 

[Xavier]

Not opposed to foldables, as long as they aren't super thick when folded. That kind of always defeated the purpose for me.

 

[WWPD]

...and we're calling it iTaco.

 

[JSDK]

I can't imagine Apple releasing devices with a plastic screen that can be destroyed with a fingernail. So unless they invent bendable glass, I don't think anything will come from them any time soon.

 

[Student of Life]

I think a way to bypass many of the limitations of a foldable is with a rollable one. It would keep the phone thickness the same, it seems like the crease is gone and you get expandable screen size. That technology seems closer to what Apple would like to accomplish with a flip phone.

 

[Fizzy Lifting Drink]

Widthwise? According to the image, this would be heightwise. Widthwise would be folding it like a book.

 

[DFZD]

Apple if you are listening, the fold market is not worth it, at least not in its current form so don't just make another foldable phone with the current display tech.

 

[MrENGLISH]

Foldable phones are a solution in search of a problem, and Apple isn't going to release one anytime soon.

Considering how small pockets are on women's clothing, I think a lot of woman would prefer to own a folding iPhone that can actually fit into their pockets vs having an iPhone sticking halfway out of the pocket.

For me personally, I would like to be able to have an iPhone similar to that of the Honor Magic V2. As think as an iPhone Pro Max when folded, yet can open up to something the size of the iPad mini when you want to use the device more like a tablet without having to carry a second (tablet) device with you.

Both sound like solutions to problems to me.

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

The fact that Android handset makers have been banging their heads against the foldables problem for 6 years now, and are nowhere close to any significant market penetration or compelling use case is very telling IMO. Compared to other FOMO fads like VR, it's looking pretty bleak. As dubious as the future of VR is for the medium term future, at least there are a few applications that are attractive to a decent sized audience and some affordable entry-level hardware that the average consumer can experiment with.

Foldables are for whom? to do what with? and for how much? And they're worse in some important ways?

 

[timmodugdale]

Meh. I'm not at all interested in a foldable iPhone.

 

[spartan1967]

If Apple puts a fully functional screen on the outside of the Phone when folded, it will be a solution to a problem for me.

 

[thejoshuabradshaw]

So stupid

 

[j26]

What makes a foldable iPad attractive? Genuine question.

I ride a motorcycle to work quite a bit. To be able to slip my iPad into my hip bag and be able to fit other stuff in would be very useful to me. I don't like backpacks on the bike and avoid using them if I can - if I come off, it's something that can damage my back if I have to roll.

At other times to be able to shove it in my back pocket and not need a bag at all would be great.

 

[Mousse]

Still can't wrap my head around why "flip"-phones are gaining mainstream popularity.

Butt dialing.😓 Back in the olden days when I had a flip phone, it never, ever butt dialed anyone. My candybar style phone (Nokia 3310) butt dialed on occasions. My android phone butt dials a lot more often than the old Nokia.

 

[ShawnTXDFW]

I know everyone is subject to their own opinion. But I think foldable phones are a joke. If I wanted a flip phone, then I would just go back in time. I like the iPhones just the way they are. But, that’s just me. 🤷‍♂️

 

[dannyyankou]

It would be interesting to see how they keep MagSafe in the phone if it folds in the middle.

 

[deconstruct60]

....

Citing individuals with "direct knowledge" of the project, the two iPhone prototypes reportedly fold widthwise like a clamshell.

i.e. fliphone . Was that so hard?

Apple's initial vision for the foldable iPhone imagined the display residing on the outside when the phone is shut, but engineers struggled to address durability problems with this design. The industrial design team also wanted the device to be no thicker than current iPhone models when closed, which became untenable due to limitations with battery and display technology.

The thinnest politburo comes up with a constraint that is not technically possible. Surprise no product.
The Phone devices all come with an app that tracks your screen time, in part because there are too many users who are so screen addicted they are junkies . So the harm of turning the 'big screen' off would be what??? [ Not just apple The current tech porn craze is ever larger cover screens on flip/fold phones too. Why because going to loose 'junkie' user sales. ] And also ''surprise , surprise" the phone isn't as expensive also ( e.g., current Motorola Razr vs. Razr+ . Currently with sales, they are respectively now priced $499 vs $699 ). Cirque-du-Soleil , 'disco; on the lock screen isn't always useful or necessary. 'What time is it' and 'who is calling' previously worked extremely well for millions of users several years ago.

Alas, that would be a useful , tractable follow up to the more easily pocketable "Mini" that had issues. Apple is off chasing turning the iPhone into an iPad mini ( foldable) ... more screen time on even bigger (higher price tag) screens is more profits for Apple.

 

[Zc456]

What makes a foldable iPad attractive? Genuine question.

They're not a bad idea. Makes the whole a lot more compact and portable. On the other hand, I'm not sure if it's really worth the effort to apply it to an already proven slate form factor. I'm curious, but I don't have my hopes up.