Apple Prioritizing Foldable Display Efficiency to Boost Battery Life

[MacRumors]

Apple has worked to increase the power efficiency of its first foldable display, a new rumor claims.

According to the latest post from the Weibo user known as "Phone Chip Expert," Apple's first foldable display prioritizes power efficiency. To achieve this, the company has successfully reduced the display driver integrated circuit (IC) from 28nm to 16nm—a significant advancement. This may help prolong battery life.

According to analyst Jeff Pu, Apple's first foldable recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn, with mass production slated to begin in the second half of 2026. Reports suggest Apple could launch the device either late next year or in early 2027.

The Weibo user has a number of accurate previous claims, including that the iPhone 7 would be water-resistant, the standard iPhone 14 models would continue using the A15 Bionic chip (with the more advanced A16 chip being exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models), and Apple would build servers to support Apple Intelligence using Apple Silicon hardware. These predictions were later corroborated by multiple credible sources and subsequently proven to be correct.


Article Link: Apple Prioritizing Foldable Display Efficiency to Boost Battery Life

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Folding devices are definitely of interest to me... this might be the first time I buy a new iPhone since the 6+ instead of waiting 1-3 years to buy it used...

 

[HouseLannister]

Read between the lines: thin phones have less room for big batteries, so they cut the mAh and try to make it up everywhere else. I am sure there will also be reported battery savings from the 2nm A20 or A21 by the time these come out.

 

[rp2011]

Another case of Apple doing self-harm. No one was clamoring for Apple Intelligence (other than clueless Wall Street investors) and no one is clamoring for these things. And when they flop, which they will, Apple will have a matching black eye from punching itself in the face.

The saddest part is that there are no rumors from Apple about anything other than aping old failed Android features that no one is asking for. Where's something of consequence? The m4 Ultra? the M4 ultra could have disrupted Nvidia and Ai. Something that even Wall Street could understand. But no, they focus on punching themselves in the face and folding phones

 

[barkomatic]

I'm very excited about a foldable iPhone. I think we've reached the maximum size of the candy bar style--maybe a bit beyond it actually. Going to a foldable will allow a large display that folds into a small form factor. Many companies already have this down.

 

[zorinlynx]

I have absolutely zero interest in folding phones, and recognize that some people want this, but at the same time don't want Apple to neglect regular non-folding iPhones in favor of the folding ones.

That's one of my main concerns around this.

 

[roland.g]

That is a really lazy mockup.

 

[HouseLannister]

no one is clamoring for these things.

You must not fly often. Can't go on a domestic US flight without seeing at least 3-5 Samsung Folds. They have found their audience.

 

[roland.g]

I'm very excited about a foldable iPhone. I think we've reached the maximum size of the candy bar style--maybe a bit beyond it actually. Going to a foldable will allow a large display that folds into a small form factor. Many companies already have this down.

Hopefully I'm still excited in 18-24 months if and when this finally sees the light of day after Samsung and a handful of other companies have products in the market.

 

[Dave245]

I'm still not sold on foldable because of the durability (especially in the screen). However if there is one I would try it would be Apple's, simply because it has IOS. While I do have an Android as my second phone, I love IOS and always revert back to it.

 

[roland.g]

Another case of Apple ding self-harm. No one was clamoring for Apple Intelligence (other than clueless Wall Street investors) and no one is clamoring for these things. And when they flop, which they will, Apple will have a matching black eye from punching itself in the face.

The saddest part is that there are no rumors from Apple about anything that aping old failed Android features that no one is asking for. Where's something of consequence? The m4 Ultra? the M4 ultra could have disrupted Nvidia and Ai. Something that even Wall Street could understand. But no, they focus on punching themselves in the face and folding phones

Um no. This sort of tech is not punching themselves in the face.

 

[nt5672]

I'm just expecting iOSF to be even more buggy than iOS.

 

[ghanwani]

Oh no, looks like even more dithering- and PWM-like innovations headed our way.

 

[jarman92]

Wow, Apple is working to improve energy efficiency? What a revelation! 🤯

 

[Thymio]

It appears that the fold is the iPhone XX

I hope we can get one in the size of the 5s when folded.
That way we can have a regular size phone again and those who want bigger can just unfold it.
I will glue it shut to minimize risk of damage.

 

[contacos]

Read between the lines: thin phones have less room for big batteries, so they cut the mAh and try to make it up everywhere else. I am sure there will also be reported battery savings from the 2nm A20 or A21 by the time these come out.

Not really. My Fold has a 5,600 battery and is only 4,2 mm thick

 

[MacMediaNet]

I have absolutely zero interest in folding phones, and recognize that some people want this, but at the same time don't want Apple to neglect regular non-folding iPhones in favor of the folding ones.

That's one of my main concerns around this.

I'm afraid that just as Apple abandoned small iPhones (including the iPhone mini), so too will Apple replace normal phones with foldable ones... Hooray, hooray, we'll have even heavier shovels and bricks.

 

[ufgatorvet]

I am personally looking forward to seeing these. Not sure I understand all the worry about the screen holding up for years, seems like getting a new iDevice every year is all the rage....

 

[Falhófnir]

Glad it seems Apple is still insistent on getting these small details correct, like with the higher fill density of their OLED phone panels. Interested to see what they come out with and if it's a more compelling and rounded package than the competition.

 

[rp2011]

Um no. This sort of tech is not punching themselves in the face.

Just a nice slap huh

 

[rp2011]

You must not fly often. Can't go on a domestic US flight without seeing at least 3-5 Samsung Folds. They have found their audience.

lol you see a phone on a plane, so that makes it commonplace. ok.
However, in 2024 data suggests Android phones sold about 1.2 BILLION units while Apple sold 232 million. Foldable on the other hand, sold 17.8 million or barely 1.5 %. That's how "popular" they are. In 6 years they have barely managed to get 1.5 % of the market. And that's with a HUGE push year after year from "analysts"

 

[smulji]

nother case of Apple doing self-harm. No one was clamoring for Apple Intelligence (other than clueless Wall Street investors)

When you realize Wall Street is Tim Cook's real customer, then you'll understand the moves that he makes.

 

[rp2011]

When you realize Wall Street is Tim Cook's real customer, then you'll understand the moves that he makes.

....and he got himself a nice black eye for that move.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Read between the lines: thin phones have less room for big batteries, so they cut the mAh and try to make it up everywhere else. I am sure there will also be reported battery savings from the 2nm A20 or A21 by the time these come out.

But the article is about foldables, which have more room for batteries due to doubling the housing area while not halving their thickness.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

No one was clamoring for Apple Intelligence (other than clueless Wall Street investors)

All smartphone manufacturers are vying for who can develop the best AI for their phones. If Apple didn't compete in this as well, they wouldn't sell nearly as many iPhones in the very near future, maybe not even enough to support the iPhone line at all.