Indeed they are.
But when Apple do it, it will be marketed as a 'gamechanger' and completely new! lol
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Foldable iPhone Said to Feature 'Crease-Free' Display — Here's How
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Indeed they are.
But when Apple do it, it will be marketed as a 'gamechanger' and completely new! lol
I'm not saying it's definitely going to be the case here, but there is plenty of history of other companies throwing something against the wall well before its ready (or doing it well but before it can be produced in quantities at Apple's scale) only for Apple to come in after the fact and do it "correctly" and then all of a sudden it goes mainstream.
And I'm not even sure it has to sell "well." Let's assume an average selling price of $2,000 for the foldable and say only 10% of iPhone users opt for it. Given the estimate of 220 million iPhones per year, that would be a total of $44 billion in revenue. If we only take the delta over the existing iPhones, given the current average selling price of around $1,000, it's an extra $22 billion in revenue over the "standard" phone. (Yes, obviously most of the people buying the foldable would be buying the Pro models, so it's not exactly Apples to Apples (pun intended), but you get the idea).
$44 billion is about as much revenue as Coca-Cola or JP Morgan Chase. $22 billion is about as much revenue as Carnival Cruises or Diageo.
Everyone thinks the new Apple shiny, to compete with Galaxy fold, will be another folding phone.
Maybe so, but don't be surprised if it's something else, like a slide-out phone...
How does that work?
Fig 4 is a folding phone.
Fig 5 is a sliding phone.
Fig 6 shows the roll-up screen and how it unrolls. Like the (now discontinued, and crazy expensive LG R-class OLED TV)
So is this just fantasy?
Well, check out: (2025) https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250208660A1 Electronic Devices Having Sliding Expandable Displays ...
Maybe so, but don't be surprised if it's something else, like a slide-out phone...
How does that work?
Fig 4 is a folding phone.
Fig 5 is a sliding phone.
Fig 6 shows the roll-up screen and how it unrolls. Like the (now discontinued, and crazy expensive LG R-class OLED TV)
So is this just fantasy?
Well, check out: (2025) https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250208660A1 Electronic Devices Having Sliding Expandable Displays ...
LMAO. The only products on the market in this space are low volume crap, over-engineered nonsense, with a vomit-inducing crease in the middle of the display.
There is nothing to be behind on.
So FWIW... I'm a hardcore iPhone user since iPhone v1. I was Best Buy the other day and they had Fold 7 on display.
A few observations from 5 minutes of messing with it:
1. I won't own an android device, I prefer iOS
2. the build quality was not as nice as apple, but it was not bad was pretty good (it didn't feel cheap, but apple feels better)
3. The screen, surprised me, it's really good. Super sharp, bright, clear, detailed. And I actually liked the form factor and screen when closed, and when opened would likely negate most of my use of an iPad, the crease (in a near new display model) was no visible at all except at an angle and it was very subtle. I'm going to guess with time and use that becomes more visible. The screen also had a plastic feel issue that I didn't like.
So here's my quick take:
If apple can solve the crease / plastic feel issues of the screen, I'd be interested in a phone in a similar from factor. I use a 16PM now and have had the large form factor since apple released them.
Oh, they also had the new 7 flip I think it's called, That was also pretty good, but I think I prefer the larger form factor. It really had the same issues as the fold (screen feel, build feel).
A few observations from 5 minutes of messing with it:
1. I won't own an android device, I prefer iOS
2. the build quality was not as nice as apple, but it was not bad was pretty good (it didn't feel cheap, but apple feels better)
3. The screen, surprised me, it's really good. Super sharp, bright, clear, detailed. And I actually liked the form factor and screen when closed, and when opened would likely negate most of my use of an iPad, the crease (in a near new display model) was no visible at all except at an angle and it was very subtle. I'm going to guess with time and use that becomes more visible. The screen also had a plastic feel issue that I didn't like.
So here's my quick take:
If apple can solve the crease / plastic feel issues of the screen, I'd be interested in a phone in a similar from factor. I use a 16PM now and have had the large form factor since apple released them.
Oh, they also had the new 7 flip I think it's called, That was also pretty good, but I think I prefer the larger form factor. It really had the same issues as the fold (screen feel, build feel).
A foldable 'phone/iPad' could have a market. Small as a phone, about the same as an iPad mini when open. A tweaked iPadOS that also included full phone functioning. There probably is a market for such a device. Running iPadOS and being a fully non-tethered phone would be the gimmick. Not the 'fold.'
I really should stop assuming folks in the comments will have a solid grasp of "this may not be for me, but it can still exist for those that it's for"
Let me say this real slow for many of you: Products can exist, that aren't for you. It doesn't mean it shoulnd't exist. Chances are most of you are not in the Ferrari market, but don't wish it didn't exist. Plus in this instance, half of you will probably crap on this becuase it's not current Apple, it rolls out, and suddenly you're all "omg it's the best, I can't imagine life without it." If you don't believe me, go look at any old 1st Gen iPad rumors.
Let me say this real slow for many of you: Products can exist, that aren't for you. It doesn't mean it shoulnd't exist. Chances are most of you are not in the Ferrari market, but don't wish it didn't exist. Plus in this instance, half of you will probably crap on this becuase it's not current Apple, it rolls out, and suddenly you're all "omg it's the best, I can't imagine life without it." If you don't believe me, go look at any old 1st Gen iPad rumors.
The only thing you forget is that the average MR user is 100% representative of the 1B+ Apple users out there and they more than Apple and everyone else...
/s
With Apple bringing the Phone app to iPadOS 26, it’s a distinct possibility.
Microsoft was doing good with the surface design, the sw wasn't on par but the idea of 2 screen was right.Just have two static displays that come together tightly, worst case scenario is a very thin line.
We put up with the Trinitron mask for years
This from the guy who typically is excited about everything Apple and against the typically negative comments ...
So, you have your use case, and without seeing/touching/using this rumored foldable iPhone you say "yuck".
So this one might not be for you but Apple will continue to offer slabs, so shouldn't impact you at all.
I am old school in that I carrry my phone in a holster on my belt and I'd love this form factor to potentially eliminate my iPad.
Options are a great thing.
I suspect a truly invisible crease is so difficult to achieve that it's the reason Apple hasn't come out with a foldable. Why would they release something that feels gimmicky and brings a compromised user experience? They rarely do that with any of their hardware releases.
I vaguely recall a quote from Jonny Ive years ago saying that they’ve solved this issue.
What that means, if true, is that they’ve done successful prototyping but the delay is from manufacturing at scale at a price point that makes sense
Personally, I think that unless folding introduces some sort of new functionality, this entire segment is the industry grasping at straws because there is NO next big thing in the mature smartphone market….
If you just want to use your phone there is no extra step. The extra step is there if you want to do something on a larger screen, which is going to be quicker than putting your phone away and switching to an iPad.
One bit of good news is this thing won't need a tripod or something to prop it up for a photo or watching a vid or streaming in bed.
To each their own of course, but after owning several foldables dating back to the Z Fold 3, I wouldn't go back to a regular slab phone if you paid me. I honestly don't know how anyone can enjoy looking at photos, viewing web pages, or reading and responding to emails on slab phones.
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Yeah, I'm not saying it wouldn't have potential interest if it was done right. I'm worried about the possibility of doing it right, to Apple's standards. Who knows, though? The iPad Mini appeals to me, and I loved my 13 mini. If I could get a device the size of the 13 mini when folded that could double its screen area to nearly that of an iPad mini, with minimal compromises beyond a higher price, I'd be tempted!
If I can get a smaller footprint phone with a usable screen by unfolding, I'm all in. I don't need a phone that turns into an iPad. I understand why other companies have offered both of these approaches. I am glad Apple is waiting until it can really work, design wise. Current offerings are either bulky or have a brutal crease. They are getting better, though.
I want the most usable phone in the smallest possible form factor. The watch can provide this under certain circumstances. I have ipads for when i need more space.
I want the most usable phone in the smallest possible form factor. The watch can provide this under certain circumstances. I have ipads for when i need more space.