Samsung Display Readies Development Team for Apple Foldable Panels

[MacRumors]

Apple supplier Samsung Display has reorganized its Apple business team to achieve operational efficiency in the development of foldable panels, claims a new report out of Korea.

According to The Elec, Samsung wants to strengthen its capabilities in anticipation of Apple's first foldable products by integrating the expertise it has gained making Samsung foldable devices since 2019.

Samsung Display and LG Display are said to be already working on projects for Apple's foldable products, including panels with 20.25-inch dimensions, according to the report. It's not clear if the panel size relates to a specific product or a panel production process.

Apple has been known to be working on foldable display technology for some years now, filing multiple patents regarding the technology. Rumors in September 2020 indicated that Samsung was providing foldable display samples to Apple for a future foldable ‌iPhone‌, but there had been no strong indication that Apple was planning to use Samsung's technology until now.

In 2021, Bloomberg claimed that Apple had started "early work" on an ‌iPhone‌ with a foldable display, but that it had not committed to releasing a foldable device at that time. Development in 2021 had not expanded beyond a display, and Apple did not have full foldable ‌iPhone‌ prototypes.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo initially said that Apple would introduce a foldable ‌iPhone‌ in 2024, but in 2022, he revised his prediction and said that Apple is unlikely to unveil a foldable iPhone until 2025 or later. Display analyst Ross Young has also suggested 2025 is the earliest that we might see a foldable ‌iPhone‌.

Article Link: Samsung Display Readies Development Team for Apple Foldable Panels

 

[gpat]

Samsung and Apple... still a better love story than Twilight.

 

[bLackjackj]

Samsung and Apple... still a better love story than Twilight.

Not as romantic as the Apple and Google liaison.

 

[HackMacDaddy]

I'm buying one for sure, even if its 2000€. I started getting rid of redundand stuff and I come to hate needing different devices for different tasks. Now if Apple gives us a "Dex-Macos-mode" too in the future, I'm letting go iPad, Macbook and Desktop. I'll also get the 1600€ Apple Display if it works together nicely.

 

[H2SO4]

Seems like a good idea to me. I can wait though. What I can't wait for however is the Lance Armstrong level of back-pedalling we're going to get around here when it starts selling.
Popcorn on the ready.........

 

[DMG35]

This will be the phone that makes foldables the new norm.

 

[Schizoid]

Any guesses at the Apple marketing name for a foldable screen?
- Division screen
- Apple compact
- HD Max centralize
- Flex plus

…or variations thereof!

 

[GuruZac]

I think the foldables are really novel, it’s just my experience using Samsung’s was that the crease was far too apparent. I hope by the time Apple releases a foldable to the public the crease is completely gone.

 

[arian71]

Apple is folding down.. good for competition

 

[GuruZac]

I'm buying one for sure, even if its 2000€. I started getting rid of redundand stuff and I come to hate needing different devices for different tasks. Now if Apple gives us a "Dex-Macos-mode" too in the future, I'm letting go iPad, Macbook and Desktop. I'll also get the 1600€ Apple Display if it works together nicely.

I 100% agree. There is truly no reason why Apple can’t make a product like the Samsung Fold 5 with a macOS like desktop mode.

 

[nfl46]

Well, its about time. At least give us the option.

 

[dannyyankou]

Foldables still have too many sacrifices for me. I'll likely pass on this.

 

[Tozovac]

Apple being so focused on form sometimes to the sacrifice of function…if there’s even a slight chance of seeing a permanent visual indication away from pristine-new 100% flatness, I can’t see how Apple would put this out.

Now. If Apple develops the tech so the screen keeps that 100% flat appearance after 100,000 openings, and at a device thickness not much more than an iPhone 15, I’ll be super impressed.

 

[SW3029]

can't wait until Apple's foldable phone comes out so I can finally admit foldable phones are kinda really cool

 

[Ctrlos]

Any guesses at the Apple marketing name for a foldable screen?
- Division screen
- Apple compact
- HD Max centralize
- Flex plus

…or variations thereof!

They'll call the line Apple Paper allowing them a run of puntastic feature names such as a foldable video editor ("Paperclips"), a productivity suite ("Paperwork") and an AI Siri function that sits on hold for you in the background ("Paperwait")

In all seriousness though I would imagine they will revive the iBook brand because it actually fits really well.

 

[Frantisekj]

Looks like that the only reason Samsung produce foldables is that they mature technology enough to win Apple foldable business 😂

 

[spazzcat]

Does the screen still crease? There is no way Apple makes a foldable phone until the screen doesn't crease.

 

[wanha]

There's no question about the promise and value of foldable display phones, it's just that so far the durability and price have been prohibitive.

Hopefully this means they've managed to fix both

 

[MR. SucksALot]

I say it will be called the “Apple Turnover”

But that’s just me

 

[lenningj]

Could we see this bundled as 2 devices in 1, therefore along with the cost of the tech involved to produce it, the cost of 2 separate devices equating to 1 iPhone Fold? (no more iPad mini in the future) Guess $2199 starting price

 

[zakarhino]

I keep getting worried Apple won't make one but this sounds like they've committed to it, getting all the suppliers in order. I'm so hyped. Probably more hyped for this than Vision Pro.

 

[coolfactor]

I 100% agree. There is truly no reason why Apple can’t make a product like the Samsung Fold 5 with a macOS like desktop mode.

There's one good reason ... unit sales. Rather than selling a phone, tablet and laptop, they'd sell just a single device.

Second reason is compromise. Anytime a device tries to do too much, to be too much, there's always a downside, always compromise.

I personally prefer having separate devices for separate use cases.

 

[coolfactor]

Foldables still have too many sacrifices for me. I'll likely pass on this.

There won't be a foldable Apple device for at least two more years, so you're good.

 

[BlairMALL]

Not as romantic as the Apple and Google liaison.

I don't know... feels more like 50 Shades of Space Grey to me.

 

[5232152]

As much as I enjoy my 14 Pro, the hardware of my Samsung Flip 5 is just so much more interesting, useful and innovative. About time Apple starts to properly innovate in things that consumers want (I am looking at you Vision Pro).