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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.
We used to have a calculator, telephone, radio, fax machine, aftermarket gps car navigation, notepads, music player, dictaphone and many more.... you see where I'm going with this? ;-) There is no difference for me if I plug cables into a Mac or phone in a dock.

Of course, I wouldn't buy a new iPad and MacBook anymore, but I would buy the foldable + dock + monitor + whatever useful peripherals/accessories they'll offer. The foldable costing as a much as iphone + ipad together.
 
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I don't have any use for the extra screen space on my phone but know a lot of people do.

I just wonder if they will last 3-5 years? The days of yearly upgrades are basically over.
 
An iPhone mini that folds out into a square please!

Or even better a little flip phone that I rarely have to open and just use the front screen for checking emails and replying to text messages.

I mean at this point anything to get a small phone back, even if it folds out into a chonker.
 
Whilst foldable screens still have crease lines at the hinge, I'm not interested. If they can eliminate that then I'd buy one.

I just can't see them doing that though, they'd have to create a technology that flattens creases indefinitely within milliseconds of a screen being opened up flat. No compromises either - I don't want a bezel covering the crease or anything like that.
 
With iOS continuing its downward spiral, I'm not sure if I would come back to Apple if they ever make a foldable. I would certainly have to give an Apple foldable a try though, since I'm not one to judge things I've never experienced like some people. I prefer to try all new sorts of tech gadgets and then form my opinion on which one is superior. I'd like to see an Apple foldable sooner than later. The more competition the better. Mark my words, if/when Apple launches a book style foldable (or maybe even a flip style), foldables will instantly become mainstream overnight.
 
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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.........
Well said. Take your screen shots now folks. You are going to see foldable haters bragging about how much they love their shiny new Apple foldable, that Apple invented! It's only a matter of time at this point.
 
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No you won't. And anyone else on here saying the same won't pass on it either. If it has the Apple logo, you'll get it. You aren't impressing anyone.
Bull. I’ve passed on three generations of iPhone now (with no intention of buying the 16 either) and haven’t bought a new Apple Watch in six years. They come out with stuff all the time that we don’t buy.

I’m not paying $2000 for some thick, foldable smartphone with a crease in the middle of the screen after six months. I don’t give a damn whose logo is on the back.
 
No you won't. And anyone else on here saying the same won't pass on it either. If it has the Apple logo, you'll get it. You aren't impressing anyone.

That's a bit presumptuous. I've kept my Macs for 10 years, and my phones for 4 years...Plan to keep my 13 Pro until it loses support. Don't have any iPads and never found any use for them.

No interest in the foldable because I don't need or want a larger screen. There are plenty of Apple products I don't need or want.
 
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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.
You're talking about a company that was willing to carve out a portion of the screen for front-facing cameras. 😛 Apple will sacrifice both form and function for profit and marketshare protection.

IMO, this is another "iPad Mini" moment for Apple. Apple was initially against a smaller form-factor iPad. They stood firm on that until... 8" Android tablets regardless of name and quality were selling in sufficient quantities that it caught Apple's attention.

In response, Apple grudgingly produced the iPad Mini. The release of the iPad Mini has been, "oh, so you want a smaller iPad? Well then we're going to may you pay for it... and pay a lot". The Mini was successful not only commercially (vertical markets... not necessarily individual consumers), but in completely tanking the 8" Android tablet market.

Fast-forward 11 years. Foldables were dismissed by Apple, and criticized by the Apple faithful. Samsung took the risk, and while the first few models were problematic, Samsung continued to improve things. Foldables are now selling in sufficient quantities to get Apple's attention again.

If a hypothetical foldable iPhone is produced, it only has to be as good as a Samsung foldable for it to be wildly successful. I think that there are many secretly envious iPhone owners who would love a foldable but not enough to buy a Samsung device.
 
Btw: the crease in the OnePlus Open (middle) is very very minimal compared to google and Samsung. And this is tech that has been out for a while. So I am sure Apple can make this even better in 2 years from now. This is just to show some of you that the crease is already (almost) negligible.View attachment 2323495
Agreed. The crease is disappearing over time. And no, the crease doesn't "get worse" over time, which is one of the great foldable myths. I mean, maybe the crease would get slightly more apparent if you own a foldable for 4 or 5 years but why would anyone own one that long? I recently bought my fifth foldable and the crease hasn't gotten worse over time on any of them, regardless of the manufacturer or style (flip or fold). Also, people that have never owned one like to complain about thickness and weight when foldables today weigh right at or slightly less than the iPhone 14/15 PM and are only slightly thicker. What a time to be alive!
 
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You're talking about a company that was willing to carve out a portion of the screen for front-facing cameras. 😛 Apple will sacrifice both form and function for profit and marketshare protection.

If a hypothetical foldable iPhone is produced, it only has to be as good as a Samsung foldable for it to be wildly successful. I think that there are many secretly envious iPhone owners who would love a foldable but not enough to buy a Samsung device.

I agree with a lot you're saying, but I can't help but feel Apple would not accept any screen with any potential to show the slightest crease, unevenness, etc. over time. I know this flies in the face of Apple selling Phones as jewelry (instead of with more "real world" durability designed-in). But the difference is, Apple designs iPhones intending the user to "use the device correctly"....meaning, if someone holds their phone the correct way, doesn't drop it, doesn't immerse it in water for long periods of time, etc. but then uses the heck out of it, the phone should look pristine for years go come. But if someone "uses an a foldable iPhone correctly" in the same manners as above and there's even a little chance of seeing a fold line over time (non-perfectly flat surface and/or wear marks), then I'd think there's no way in hell Apple would release one.

I think the difference between this and carving out a portion of the screen for cameras, etc., is that those items aren't the unwanted result from users just using their device... Now sure, Apple probably recognizes that "consumable" items like watch straps wear over time by nature of their material/construction and usage intent. But no way in hell will Apple accept a screen with any potential to not look like jewelry over time (as long as the user "uses it correctly")...

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

I agree.

Btw: the crease in the OnePlus Open (middle) is very very minimal compared to google and Samsung. And this is tech that has been out for a while. So I am sure Apple can make this even better in 2 years from now. This is just to show some of you that the crease is already (almost) negligible.View attachment 2323495

Apple would need to be more than just better. They'll have to virtually re-write the rules of physics and material wear over time. Any crease in a their jewelry will not be acceptable...IMHO.
 
Super exciting... Though I not paying more then the cost of a laptop for it. I tried the iPad it did not replace the laptop not even close.
 
Foldables offer a mini tablet and a phone in one compact device. The problem before this was having to carry around two devices all the time. It's not rocket science.

This device will kill the iPad. So I can see Apple not releasing this foldable iPhone to be honest. Apple makes more money selling you an iPhone + iPad, rather than 1 device that does both.
 
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This device will kill the iPad. So I can see Apple not releasing this foldable iPhone to be honest. Apple makes more money selling you an iPhone + iPad, rather than 1 device that does both.
I agree with you to a certain extent. While it would cannibalize iPad Mini sales, I don't think it would have as much of an effect on sales of the larger iPads.
 
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