Bank of America Analyst Says Apple Plans to Launch Foldable iPhone in 2020

[bigboyz12000]

Apple plans to launch a foldable iPhone two years from now, according to Wamsi Mohan, an analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

A fan-made foldable iPhone concept​

Mohan shared his prediction in a research note obtained by CNBC after spending a week in Asia meeting with companies in Apple's supply chain. He expects the foldable iPhone will launch in 2020 and said it could potentially "double up as a tablet," suggesting the device could expand to have an iPad-like form factor.

This isn't the first time we've heard this rumor. Back in December 2016, a Korean report said LG Display was developing and mass-producing foldable displays for smartphones. And, as of October 2017, it appears that LG Display has reached an agreement to supply Apple with its foldable displays for future iPhones.

LG has shown off various futuristic-looking curved and foldable display prototypes over the past three years, including one with a book-like design and another that can be rolled up like a newspaper. Both designs take advantage of the flexible property of OLED displays, compared to rigid LCD screens.

For that reason, the iPhone X is a good start on the path towards a foldable iPhone, should one ever materialize.

While not visible, the iPhone X actually has a flexible OLED display that curves behind itself on the inside of the device. The curved portion houses the display controller chip, and this clever engineering feat allows the iPhone X to have a slimmer bottom bezel, which is normally where the chip is located.

iPhone X's flexible OLED display​

A foldable iPhone would require further innovation. If the device can be rolled up like a newspaper, then components like the logic board and battery would need to be flexible enough to bend rather than buckle. But if it only folds in half, then components could still be rigid and connected with flex cables.

Apple applied for a foldable display patent last year and is likely researching ways to create a foldable iPhone, but that doesn't guarantee we'll ever see a consumer-facing product. 2020 might be an overly ambitious timeframe, too, but technology can change a lot in two years, so we'll have to wait and see.

Article Link: Bank of America Analyst Says Apple Plans to Launch Foldable iPhone in 2020

 

[CarpalMac]

Intentionally?

Too funny!

 

[Rafterman]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_StarTAC

You were "da bomb" if you rocked one of those back in the day.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Nice to see Apple continuing to innovate. This is a viable way to reduce the pocketable size of an iPhone while continuing to increase the display size.

(Also something I’ve predicted years ago.)

 

[trekkie604]

If there will be seams in the screen then nope!

 

[dogslobber]

This is the killer feature to make larger iPhones worthwhile. Right now these large iPhones are worthless junk as they're too large. If Apple pulls this off then they will finally have moved to the post-Steve era.

 

[Kid Red]

2020- Apple unveils the innovative flip phone.

 

[outskirtsofinfinity]

I hope this happens, and that there will be no headphone jack.

 

[latts]

Given Apple's move into MicroLED screen technology as reported on this site I wonder if this true.

Apple's suppliers may be going down this route but it doesn't mean they're going to stay with OLED.

According to a quick search and this interesting article they offer a lot of benefits including power, performance and colour while also allowing for flexibility.
https://www.androidauthority.com/micro-led-display-explained-805148/

 

[tridley68]

Not even remotely interested .

 

[icymountain]

"It is not a bug, it is a feature".

 

[BigJohno]

We are listening to bank analyst now... Good front page news Macrumors...

 

[blacktape242]

interesting to say the least, wonder how the bend point would hold up long term tho.

 

[medazinol]

Yeah right...

 

[Krayzkat]

The Apple Watch is a square shape. Just sayin.

Yes but no one reads books, watches video etc on it

-----------------------------------------

If the foldable screen was on the outside of the device when folded up, how would that work with phone cases? Because these days i don't go with a phone case on my phone and that only has a screen on 1 side, any device i have to carry about all day with screens on both sides are gonna have to be protected from inevitable bashes/drops somehow.


ps. i know in the future we will eventually have folding screens so thin and cheap it won't matter too much, but that time is not anytime soon


edit: I can see it making sense for an iPad for around the house..... unfold to a large screen for watching videos and fold back up for reading in bed etc.....

 

[Applebot1]

“You are folding it wrong”....T&C of Apple Care

 

[latts]

Apple could present garbage on a plate and it's consumer would still buy it. Just look at how useless the iPad is and it still has a market.

It would sell, make no mistake.

Typical response of someone who doesn't like/own an iPad. There are millions of people out there who use an iPad because it fits their purpose. They neither need a phone or a laptop and the iPad works for them.

There is a market of different products because not one products suits all!

 

[Michael Scrip]

Assuming this is even possible... which direction will it fold?

Will it start tiny... and unfold into a normal-sized phone?

Or will it start as a normal-sized phone... and unfold into an even bigger phone?

Frankly... I'm having difficulty understanding either method.

 

[HallStevenson]

You can bet that the Android manufacturers read this report and are having meetings this morning.

Meetings ? Whoop-de-doo ! Do you know how long the hardware development aspect of something like this takes ? If Samsung, HTC, LG, etc decided to immediately pursue this type of design, they'd be 1-2 years behind Apple right from the start.

 

[iReality85]

Yes! Actually, I think there's some TV manufacturers (probably LG) that have found a way to make the entire TV screen the speaker. The first time I read it I thought, "lolwut." Crazy times we live in.

Wasn't aware of the lamps!

Behold!

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1521801047

 

[iceperson]

I'd rather see something that folds down the long edge, which can be used like a normal iPhone today while folded and can be unfolded to add twice the screen real estate. Folding on the short edge doesn't really seem to have any advantages other than maybe protecting the screen from things in your pocket...

 

[jonnysods]

Pretty annoying to have to view a notification. I always feel sorry for my friends who have those phone cases with the cover on them, hearing a ping, pulling out the phone, flipping open the cover, seeing its not important, flipping it shut, back in the pocket...

Foldable phone would be the same thing.

 

[L-U-R-C-H]

Not gonna happen.

 

[oldhifi]

Will it have a headphone jack or do you still have to drill it?

 

[zapm]

So this article should say, Apple will use a foldable screen once Samsung has developed and made it into a reliable product ready for a consumer device?

Do you mean the reliability that the note 7 had?