Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I know right LOL. I too am not a fan of foldable devices, but I can still appreciate how much work and ingenuity went behind a project like this.

For a forum that claims to love tech, there's way too much hate here for someone who's just having fun with a super complicated engineering project.
Agreed.
Mostly I suspect from the ones least able to even begin to do something similar.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pilot Jones
The problem Apple will now have is that any foldable iphone they make cannot look like this concept one because whilst Apple parts have been used, it is a totally new design, a design that Apple will no longer be able to use because of copyright issues because the maker of this concept device now owns the copyright to the that design and no one will be allowed to copy it unless they get permission from the designer/maker of this concept device.
 
The problem Apple will now have is that any foldable iphone they make cannot look like this concept one because whilst Apple parts have been used, it is a totally new design, a design that Apple will no longer be able to use because of copyright issues because the maker of this concept device now owns the copyright to the that design and no one will be allowed to copy it unless they get permission from the designer/maker of this concept device.
This project is 90% iPhone which Apple has the trademark/copyright for. Motorola owns the trademark/copyright for the hinge. So what exactly do the makers have copyright/trademark ownership of?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Toratek
This project is 90% iPhone which Apple has the trademark/copyright for. Motorola owns the trademark/copyright for the hinge. So what exactly do the makers have copyright/trademark ownership of?
This is the correct reply to what was either a jaw-droppingly ignorant take, or a post that was missing the /s tag.
 
Am I the only person that is not into foldable’s? The foldable phones have come and gone. Let it go already. If I wanted a stupid ass foldable phone, I would go for a Samsung, but I am an Apple fan. I know Steve Jobs had the intention of having an all screen phone and I know we’re slowly, but surely getting there. But a foldable full screen? No. No thank you. 🤷‍♂️
 
This project is 90% iPhone which Apple has the trademark/copyright for. Motorola owns the trademark/copyright for the hinge. So what exactly do the makers have copyright/trademark ownership of?

You need to check up on copyright law. Whilst the individual parts maintain the copyright/trademark of the original owners, there is a little known thing in copyright law called 'Derivative work' which if you look at it's copyright definition 'a derivative work is an expressive creation that includes major copyrightable elements of an original', this foldable iphone creation is clearly a 'Derivative work' and would be protected under copyright law, meaning if Apple was to produce a foldable iphone it would breach the copyright of the 'Derivative work'.
 
Honestly, the skill it takes to disassemble the iPhone in one form factor and re-assemble it in a mostly folding enclosure is pretty cool. And it still works! These folks are very determined and have an awful lot of time on their hands, obviously. Pretty neat skunk project. Hats off to them.
Without people messing around, innovation is dead. I love seeing slightly crazy projects like this.
 
You need to check up on copyright law. Whilst the individual parts maintain the copyright/trademark of the original owners, there is a little known thing in copyright law called 'Derivative work' which if you look at it's copyright definition 'a derivative work is an expressive creation that includes major copyrightable elements of an original', this foldable iphone creation is clearly a 'Derivative work' and would be protected under copyright law, meaning if Apple was to produce a foldable iphone it would breach the copyright of the 'Derivative work'.
Even if that applied to this, which it doesn't since they used the iPhone body and the Motorola hinge, there is already prior art showing that this one-off is derivative of existing phones. Additionally, Motorola releasing its flip after Samsung released theirs demonstrates that you can't patent/trademark the concept of the folding phone any more than you can patent/trademark the concept of an unfolding slab phone. All you can do is trademark/patent the unique technologies, or unique styling elements, used to achieve your phone. These guys didn't use any unique technologies or design elements.

A folding iPhone might be considered derivative of Samsung or Motorola, but it certainly isn't derivative of this phone.
 
Phones like the Samsung Flip are meant to make the phone less tall so it can be carried easier. Think about all of those people you see with big ass phones hanging out of their back pockets where more of the phone is out of the pocket than in. To me, the Samsung Fold is more intriguing. I have a friend who has one. The main screen is slightly smaller than Samsung's bigger flagship phone but when it's unfolded, you get a ton of screen space and the screen is clear and bright. Everyone calls these phones gimmicks but the fact that they're on the fourth iteration shows that they're not gimmicks. If I had stayed with the whole Android/Samsung thing, I'd be seriously tempted by the Fold. The price tag though. Ouch.
 
Kind of like foldable phone screens?
Well, I don’t think the foldable ones crack, but they’re certainly not ready for prime time. That new flexi LG display shows promise, but until they figure out how to deal with the hinge distortion and gunk getting behind the display, it’s just a thought experiment. The Expanse phones also had this weird transparent thing going on, really impractical.
 
really? well, say this youtube is full of these people doing these re-engineering projects. The problem is durability. Frankly speaking not interested unless been tested and apple themselves releases it. which is a few years away.

No one said this was a usable product. They just wanted to prove they could do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: profcutter
Not gonna lie, if Apple had a flip model I’d be ALL over it. Hopefully one day.

I don't care much for Flip, personally. I would like to see an Apple Fold 4 type device - instead of half as tall, twice as thick, I would like an iPad in my pocket sort of thing, like the Fold.
 
  • Like
Reactions: usmaak


A Chinese YouTuber has gone to great lengths to construct a foldable iPhone out of existing parts, merging the internal components of an iPhone with the foldable chassis of a Motorola Razr. The resulting device is an iPhone that is able to be folded in half.


The video is in the Chinese language with subtitles, and walks through the process used for deconstructing both devices. All of the internal components of the iPhone X were removed and re-enginereed to fit inside of a foldable Motorola Razr chassis.

Called the "iPhone V," the foldable iPhone is functional, running iOS, and the display clearly bends in half. Several iPhone models appear to have been torn down and converted into the foldable design, though the walkthrough focuses on the iPhone X.

Rumors suggest that Apple is working on foldable iPhone prototypes, but as of right now, there is no solid word on what an Apple foldable might look like or when it will launch.

Article Link: Primitive Folding iPhone Built From Motorola Razr and iPhone Parts


A Chinese YouTuber has gone to great lengths to construct a foldable iPhone out of existing parts, merging the internal components of an iPhone with the foldable chassis of a Motorola Razr. The resulting device is an iPhone that is able to be folded in half.


The video is in the Chinese language with subtitles, and walks through the process used for deconstructing both devices. All of the internal components of the iPhone X were removed and re-enginereed to fit inside of a foldable Motorola Razr chassis.

Called the "iPhone V," the foldable iPhone is functional, running iOS, and the display clearly bends in half. Several iPhone models appear to have been torn down and converted into the foldable design, though the walkthrough focuses on the iPhone X.

Rumors suggest that Apple is working on foldable iPhone prototypes, but as of right now, there is no solid word on what an Apple foldable might look like or when it will launch.

Article Link: Primitive Folding iPhone Built From Motorola Razr and iPhone Parts
I honestly cannot understand some of the negativity on this. In my opinion, this was awesome. Sadly I don't speak Mandarin, but good grief what a cool mod attempt. Even to just visualise what could be possible. Of course Apple will bring their own unique brand of magic to the design, but huge props and thanks to the guy that put in the effort on this. I hope he does well out of it.

Hugely enjoyable. Thanks for reposting!
 
  • Like
Reactions: profcutter


A Chinese YouTuber has gone to great lengths to construct a foldable iPhone out of existing parts, merging the internal components of an iPhone with the foldable chassis of a Motorola Razr. The resulting device is an iPhone that is able to be folded in half.


The video is in the Chinese language with subtitles, and walks through the process used for deconstructing both devices. All of the internal components of the iPhone X were removed and re-enginereed to fit inside of a foldable Motorola Razr chassis.

Called the "iPhone V," the foldable iPhone is functional, running iOS, and the display clearly bends in half. Several iPhone models appear to have been torn down and converted into the foldable design, though the walkthrough focuses on the iPhone X.

Rumors suggest that Apple is working on foldable iPhone prototypes, but as of right now, there is no solid word on what an Apple foldable might look like or when it will launch.

Article Link: Primitive Folding iPhone Built From Motorola Razr and iPhone Parts
Great…BUT WHY WOULD YOU WANT SUCH AN IDIOTIC THING?
 
I honestly cannot understand some of the negativity on this. In my opinion, this was awesome. Sadly I don't speak Mandarin, but good grief what a cool mod attempt. Even to just visualise what could be possible. Of course Apple will bring their own unique brand of magic to the design, but huge props and thanks to the guy that put in the effort on this. I hope he does well out of it.

Hugely enjoyable. Thanks for reposting!
There's a lot of hate for this type of thing simply because Samsung. I keep reading bad things on here about the Flip and Fold phones. I have actually looked at and played with both of them in Best Buy and they really are nice phones. They are discounted out of hand here because they are Samsung but how many here have actually gone and looked at them, regardless of interest in having a phone other than an iPhone? I can see the need and uses for both phones. The flip doesn't interest me simply because I never had a need for a compact phone. The fold is much more interesting because of the huge screen when it is unfolded. But the thing is a beast an easily outweighs the iPhone 14 Pro Max beast.
 
What's up with the folding phone craze? I just don't get it.
Samsung is pushing the folding phone trend. They want Apple to make a folding iPhone so that production cost of folding displays drops. Since Sammy is currently the only source of folding displays, win-win for them. Cost per item drops as production increases.
 
I think a folding phone would be better if it was made out of two non-folding screens connected with a hinge, like the Surface Duo 2, but you know, better.


Just make one side of each screen completely bezel free, so that they meet flush in the middle and make one continuous screen. I think that's the way Apple is likely to go.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.