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

[eoblaed]

I don't know how anyone can say they absolutely don't want a foldable device (iPad or iPhone or both) from Apple

I absolutely don't want a foldable phone. For me, fidelity on the screen is a big part of the premium experience. Having a hinge, or a crease, or a line, or a ridge, or whatever, in the middle of the screen is a huge degradation of experience.

For some folks who don't really care, sure, I can see how the novelty of folding your phone in half might be worth it, but I absolutely, positively do not want my screen compromised in that way. I've played with foldable phones, and outside of the initial "hey, it's kinda fun to bend the phone" moment, the monkeyed up primary screen is definitely a step down.

 

[Mikep976]

Y’all. Wow. Like, I get it. I am 100% in favor of having an opinion, but for all those folks saying Apple shouldn’t do this, or it’s in search of a problem, why does it matter? If there are people out there that it is a good solution for, let them go for it.

I can’t stand Vision Pro, and I think it’s the dumbest idea for a new product, but I’m still glad Apple did it, because for some it is a great solution, and maybe in a few years, for me to. On the other hand, I’m a foldable lover, and can’t wait to switch to a foldable next year, keep all my Apple Stuff otherwise in tact, and switch back if Apple puts one out.

Just because they sell a foldable doesn’t mean it’ll be their ONLY phone. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it, but to poo on the crease or the longevity or the pointlessness doesn’t really do anything, and for the most part, if you haven’t tried it, you can’t really say.

Ok end of rant, please give me a foldable Apple

 

[spinedoc77]

With how fast foldables are evolving Apple's product will most likely be chef's kiss. Looking at the OnePlus Open it's almost as thin as an iPhone closed, has no crease, and resolves the small outer screen issue. Honestly the only thing that would bring me back to the Apple fold, pun intended, would be a foldable. If it was a foldable iPad Mini I'd just go back to a small iPhone like the SE and carry both.

 

[turbineseaplane]

If there are people out there that it is a good solution for, let them go for it.

Agree totally

Not every Apple product needs to be desirable by everyone in their customer base

I wish more people understood this

For instance -- I'm not at all in the AVP target market, but I'm still glad they are doing it.
Granted, I hope it's not at the expense of other things, but in all likelihood it's not. Loads of people work at Apple and they have a bunch of balls in the air at all times.

 

[spinedoc77]

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 and utter inane made up nonsense.

 

[hugodrax]

A solution looking for a problem. Like designing s folding car.

 

[spinedoc77]

A solution looking for a problem. Like designing s folding car.

I didn't know a folding car could fit into your pocket? Last I checked (let me know if my geometry is incorrect) an iPad Mini sized tablet doesn't fit into my front pocket.

 

[turbineseaplane]

A solution looking for a problem. Like designing s folding car.

?

Other manufacturers have already made their own folding phones
It's not some fantasy (like a folding car)

 

[iMattPro]

Report says:

• they're too thick when folded up
• they're easily broken
• they would cost more than non-foldable versions
• the seam in the middle of the display tends to be both visible and feel-able
• the hinge on an iPad-sized device would prevent the device from sitting flat on a table

So it's garbage. Worth testing, but not a practical product worth bringing to market.

 

[Harry Haller]

A solution looking for a problem. Like designing s folding car.

Argumentum Ad Absurdum.
Well done.

 

[Harry Haller]

Report says:

• they're too thick when folded up
• they're easily broken
• they would cost more than non-foldable versions
• the seam in the middle of the display tends to be both visible and feel-able
• the hinge on an iPad-sized device would prevent the device from sitting flat on a table

So it's garbage. Worth testing, but not a practical product worth bringing to market.

Foldables had a 23% growth rate last year.

Foldable smartphone sales break record in Q3, Samsung to lose significant share in Q4

A new comprehensive report has been released on the state of foldables - past as well as future (estimated) sales numbers.

www.gsmarena.com

 

[spinedoc77]

Report says:

• they're too thick when folded up
• they're easily broken
• they would cost more than non-foldable versions
• the seam in the middle of the display tends to be both visible and feel-able
• the hinge on an iPad-sized device would prevent the device from sitting flat on a table

So it's garbage. Worth testing, but not a practical product worth bringing to market.

All of that is 1-2 years old and outdated. New models aren't much thicker than flagship slab phones, like a few mm, they are rated for hundreds of thousands of folds and I believe the OnePlus is a million folds, the OnePlus in particular has no crease anymore, they all sit flat at least as far as I've had foldables 3-4 years ago. It's a shame that many will use these outdated and most likely embellished claims in their decision making.

 

[spinedoc77]

iPhone 5 being super lightweight is really underrated

If they purposely specced some "new" Mini phone options with lower performance, intentionally, I'd imagine we could have thin and light devices again that would be awesome for those of us with minimal iPhone needs.

Apple won't do this because the uproar from their highest paying customers would be large.

Even though their flagships would objectively be better and do a ton more, folks wouldn't be able to get past the comparisons of how big, bulky, heavy and unwieldy the "most expensive iPhones" would be vs these light "air" options.

I have a spare iPhone 6 lying around and often fondle it wishfully, such a thin tiny phone, I could only imagine if they stretched the screen out, battery life be damned. That wraparound design IMO was the epitome of Apple design, I'm not really a big fan of the boxy metal surrounds of current phones.

 

[spinedoc77]

Foldables had a 23% growth rate last year.

Foldable smartphone sales break record in Q3, Samsung to lose significant share in Q4

A new comprehensive report has been released on the state of foldables - past as well as future (estimated) sales numbers.

www.gsmarena.com

Foldables are about 1% of the smartphone market worldwide, doesn't sound like much but if Apple captured only half of 1% of a 1.17 billion unit market it still means close to 6 million phones. Smartphones declined 3.2%, while foldables had significant growth. I wonder what the profit on 6 million $2k foldables would be versus 200,000 $3500 Vision Pros.

 

[subjonas]

Still can't wrap my head around why "flip"-phones are gaining mainstream popularity. They offer the same screen size and fit either about as well or worse in your pocket while ruining durability.

The "tablet-sized" solutions à la Galaxy Fold I get since they make tablets pocketable to begin with.

I’m not interested in flip phones unless they’re ridiculously thin, but I definitely see the appeal. When folded they’re easier to handle and toss around, they take up less room on a table, they could be easier to fit into small bags/purses, and it feels like a folded phone is more able to withstand drops (this may not be true but it feels that way, and at least the screen is more protected against scratches and direct impact). And then there’s something satisfying about flipping it open and snapping it shut—the flipping action itself is fun when you swing it using its momentum like a pocket knife, and the way it so clearly signifies when you start using the phone and when you finish—there’s a nice separation it creates between using the phone and not. Also you can sit the screen/camera up on a table as we’ve seen in commercials.

But it’s interesting, of all the people I know with foldable phones, all the flip style folding phones are owned by females and all the book style folding ones are owned by males. My guess is the females didn’t necessarily want bigger screens, and pocketability wasn’t a big issue to them because they either have purses or they’ve already given up on phones fitting comfortably in their pockets haha. And the males seemed to like having the bigger screen mainly to watch sports and didn’t care about the compromises. I actually don’t think any of them care too much about long term durability (or the crease).

 

[Downhilltenago]

I will go back to apple once the phone releases.

 

[Harry Haller]

I’m not interested in flip phones unless they’re ridiculously thin, but I definitely see the appeal. When folded they’re easier to handle and toss around, they take up less room on a table, they could be easier to fit into small bags/purses, and it feels like a folded phone is more able to withstand drops (this may not be true but it feels that way, and at least the screen is more protected against scratches and direct impact). And then there’s something satisfying about flipping it open and snapping it shut—the flipping action itself is fun when you swing it using its momentum like a pocket knife, and the way it so clearly signifies when you start using the phone and when you finish—there’s a nice separation it creates between using the phone and not. Also you can sit the screen/camera up on a table as we’ve seen in commercials.

But it’s interesting, of all the people I know with foldable phones, all the flip style folding phones are owned by females and all the book style folding ones are owned by males. My guess is the females didn’t necessarily want bigger screens, and pocketability wasn’t a big issue to them because they either have purses or they’ve already given up on phones fitting comfortably in their pockets haha. And the males seemed to like having the bigger screen mainly to watch sports and didn’t care about the compromises. I actually don’t think any of them care too much about long term durability (or the crease).

Interesting observation about layout preferences between men and women.
Wonder what the gender ratios will be for AVP?
My own personal bias leads me to think it will be overwhelming skewed towards male usage.

 

[tim_apple]

Apple is actively building prototypes of at least two foldable iPhones following over five years of research and development, The Information reports.

Citing individuals with "direct knowledge" of the project, the two iPhone prototypes reportedly fold widthwise like a clamshell. The devices are in early development and do not feature in the company's mass production plans for 2024 or 2025, making 2026 the earliest possible launch time frame. The company has, however, approached at least one supplier in Asia for components related to two foldable iPhone models that come in different sizes. The report added that the foldable iPhones could still be canceled if they do not meet Apple's standards.

Apple's interest in offering a foldable iPhone is said to have fluctuated over the years. Apple CEO Tim Cook apparently first asked designers and engineers about a foldable iPhone as early as 2018. Later that year, he responded positively to a demonstration of a foldable iPhone with a 7-inch display. The company is reportedly concerned about technical challenges and offering sufficiently appealing features on the device that would justify its high price point compared to non-foldable devices.

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 company paused its work on a foldable iPhone around 2020 and pivoted toward an inward folding iPad around the size of the iPad mini, featuring an 8-inch display. Apple purportedly concluded that the device could be thicker than a foldable iPhone since users would not expect to carry it in their pocket and it would not need to pass the high durability requirements of an iPhone. An foldable iPad would also enable Apple to publicly test the product category on a smaller scale.

Engineers are currently attempting to eliminate the crease that forms in the middle of the display due to repeated folding, as well as design a hinge that allows the display to lie totally flat, rather than possessing a small bump or dip in the middle, which could inhibit the Apple Pencil. The company is reportedly working with LG and Samsung on displays for the foldable iPad.

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

Apple is actively building prototypes of at least two foldable iPhones following over five years of research and development, The Information reports.

Citing individuals with "direct knowledge" of the project, the two iPhone prototypes reportedly fold widthwise like a clamshell. The devices are in early development and do not feature in the company's mass production plans for 2024 or 2025, making 2026 the earliest possible launch time frame. The company has, however, approached at least one supplier in Asia for components related to two foldable iPhone models that come in different sizes. The report added that the foldable iPhones could still be canceled if they do not meet Apple's standards.

Apple's interest in offering a foldable iPhone is said to have fluctuated over the years. Apple CEO Tim Cook apparently first asked designers and engineers about a foldable iPhone as early as 2018. Later that year, he responded positively to a demonstration of a foldable iPhone with a 7-inch display. The company is reportedly concerned about technical challenges and offering sufficiently appealing features on the device that would justify its high price point compared to non-foldable devices.

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 company paused its work on a foldable iPhone around 2020 and pivoted toward an inward folding iPad around the size of the iPad mini, featuring an 8-inch display. Apple purportedly concluded that the device could be thicker than a foldable iPhone since users would not expect to carry it in their pocket and it would not need to pass the high durability requirements of an iPhone. An foldable iPad would also enable Apple to publicly test the product category on a smaller scale.

Engineers are currently attempting to eliminate the crease that forms in the middle of the display due to repeated folding, as well as design a hinge that allows the display to lie totally flat, rather than possessing a small bump or dip in the middle, which could inhibit the Apple Pencil. The company is reportedly working with LG and Samsung on displays for the foldable iPad.

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

The only foldable phone that makes any kind of usable sense to me is a tri-fold.
The iPhone 14 Pro is 5.81” high and 2.81” deep. It’s a good size for a phone. It has 6.1” diagonal display. The depth of the phone is 0.31”. This is the first problem we have to deal with. It’s simply too thin for a tri-fold. If we don’t want a very thick phone when folded up, the depth has to come down some. But we have to make compromises here by having a thick phone in its folded configuration. 0.45” seems like a good starting point. An advantage here also is eliminating the camera bumps.

The “target” unfolded phone would be similar to the iPad mini 6 tablet. It has a 8.3” display and really is a nice size. The depth of the iPad mini 6 is 0.25”. The depth of our unfolded tablet would only be 0.15”. This leaves little room for the battery. Given all the hinges and and extra space needed for connecting three batteries together, where there would otherwise be just one, we clearly need to make some more compromises. So we need to accept a “chonkier—thicker)” folded phone. I think this is a mental adjustment that can be made. We’re so used to thin, but there’s certainly a limit to what will be acceptable and aesthetically pleasing. What’s the upper limit? The thinnest iPad is 0.23”. The thickest iPhone is 0.32”. A tri-fold phone would truly be a unique device and this suggests some leeway in device thickness would be put up with. Also for such a novel device perhaps some compromises in battery life could be made too…
0.2” seems like a good compromise for a few reasons. It’s not far from the thinnest iPad (iPad Pro 4 11”) at 0.23”.

The folded phone, assuming some gaps, would clock in at ~0.62”. Not bad for such a unique device.

Summary​

So let’s summarize. Our folded configuration is basically a double thick 14 Pro with 6.3” display (assuming smaller bezels of 2016 iteration).

The unfolded configuration is 0.2” thick (Avery thin tablet by any measure). There is no rear display, (though there could be, I don’t see this as useful).
The unfolded width (height?) would be 8.43” (about 0.7” taller than the iPad mini 6), and the width, about 1/2” as the height of the iPhone 14 5.81”. This is a 10.24” diagonal. Assuming generous 1/2” bezels we get a 9.2” tablet screen with a slightly less than 1.5:1 aspect ratio. Our screen resolution would be something like 2422 x 1488 (326ppi).

I may have made. A few math errors here, but it should be pretty close.

 

[Originalblez]

"Engineers are currently attempting to eliminate the crease that forms in the middle of the display due to repeated folding, as well as design a hinge that allows the display to lie totally flat, rather than possessing a small bump or dip in the middle, which could inhibit the Apple Pencil. The company is reportedly working with LG and Samsung on displays for the foldable iPad."

This is exactly what bothers me about folding devices. I just can't get over it.

Me too. I played with the Google Fold in a local phone shop. Attractive size but the inner screen with a really prominent crease was very distracting. Also, app exploitation of the wider screen was poor. Another problem Apple would want to solve.

 

[Originalblez]

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.

What about two glass panels that make a 99% seamless experience? I think I could live with a slight seam mark.

 

[nottorp]

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.

Looks like they need to send more people to Ive's new design shop

 

[svish]

Eagerly waiting to see Apple's first foldable. It can be released to coincide with the 20th anniversary of iPhone.

 

[Harry Haller]

That hero image is the quintessential example of a solution in search of a problem. There is literally nothing wrong with the iPhone as is. We don't need to gimp the product just so we can fold it in half.

How will offering a foldable model gimp the nonfoldable versions?
Those who don’t want foldable are happy with regular iPhone.
Those who want a foldable iPhone are happy.
Surely Apple is big enough to offer 2 models of phones.
I bet Apple can walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

[timmodugdale]

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

a VERY good question!

 

[spinedoc77]

The only foldable phone that makes any kind of usable sense to me is a tri-fold.
The iPhone 14 Pro is 5.81” high and 2.81” deep. It’s a good size for a phone. It has 6.1” diagonal display. The depth of the phone is 0.31”. This is the first problem we have to deal with. It’s simply too thin for a tri-fold. If we don’t want a very thick phone when folded up, the depth has to come down some. But we have to make compromises here by having a thick phone in its folded configuration. 0.45” seems like a good starting point. An advantage here also is eliminating the camera bumps.

The “target” unfolded phone would be similar to the iPad mini 6 tablet. It has a 8.3” display and really is a nice size. The depth of the iPad mini 6 is 0.25”. The depth of our unfolded tablet would only be 0.15”. This leaves little room for the battery. Given all the hinges and and extra space needed for connecting three batteries together, where there would otherwise be just one, we clearly need to make some more compromises. So we need to accept a “chonkier—thicker)” folded phone. I think this is a mental adjustment that can be made. We’re so used to thin, but there’s certainly a limit to what will be acceptable and aesthetically pleasing. What’s the upper limit? The thinnest iPad is 0.23”. The thickest iPhone is 0.32”. A tri-fold phone would truly be a unique device and this suggests some leeway in device thickness would be put up with. Also for such a novel device perhaps some compromises in battery life could be made too…
0.2” seems like a good compromise for a few reasons. It’s not far from the thinnest iPad (iPad Pro 4 11”) at 0.23”.

The folded phone, assuming some gaps, would clock in at ~0.62”. Not bad for such a unique device.

Summary​

So let’s summarize. Our folded configuration is basically a double thick 14 Pro with 6.3” display (assuming smaller bezels of 2016 iteration).

The unfolded configuration is 0.2” thick (Avery thin tablet by any measure). There is no rear display, (though there could be, I don’t see this as useful).
The unfolded width (height?) would be 8.43” (about 0.7” taller than the iPad mini 6), and the width, about 1/2” as the height of the iPhone 14 5.81”. This is a 10.24” diagonal. Assuming generous 1/2” bezels we get a 9.2” tablet screen with a slightly less than 1.5:1 aspect ratio. Our screen resolution would be something like 2422 x 1488 (326ppi).

I may have made. A few math errors here, but it should be pretty close.

For a folding tablet I could definitely see a tri-fold making sense, even for a phone, but the market for a thick phone like that might be limited. It would probably be thinner than what most envision, these seem to be getting thinner every generation and are now only a few mm shy of the thickness of a flagship like the 15 pro max when closed. The tri-fold setup would resolve the issues of 16:9/16:10 content quite neatly.