Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

[Pezimak]

Creasegate, I can see it now.. will be an interesting device for sure. But way overpriced and as we know Apple tends to price something then leave it at that price for several years.

 

[cicalinarrot]

What’s the demand for foldable phones? I never see anyone using one for anything other than showing it’s a foldable phone.

Niche product for people who'd use iPads for some stuff but don't want to switch devices.
Think video or photo editing on iPad vs iPhone. Much better on iPad but people use their iPhone they use to shoot because transfering data is kind of a pain in the buttocks.
Plus you only carry a single, more compact device.

For normal people, little things, but mainly having an iPad there at any time.
I could but I don't carry an iPad with me and it'd feel the same without a second device I'd have to take out of the bag, pay another internet subscription or use hotspot, charge and so on.
I'd like it for multitasking and having a bigger screen on the subway, it'd make my life better as a commuter.

Now, would I pay that kind of money for it? Not just for personal use but as a business asset, it's reasonable.

 

[jeroenvip]

will it have a creaselightning port ?

 

[geta]

The only things you need to know it will be expensive, thick and heavy brick. At list, if the rumors are true, it will have TouchID.

 

[dominiongamma]

The only things you need to know it will be expensive, thick and heavy brick. At list, if the rumors are true, it will have TouchID.

Ageee, but will still buy it lol , maybe by gen 2 and 3 if will have build in FaceID

 

[geta]

Ageee, but will still buy it lol , maybe by gen 2 and 3 if will have build in FaceID

TouchID is the only positive thing about this rumored device.

 

[rikki_t]

twice the size, twice the price but if you think about it videos and games will still only be as big as on an existing phone, unless they use a custom aspect ratio, can't wait for"you'refoldingitwrongate"

 

[DrJR]

I’d pay that $2k for it, no less of course. I’m on a flight right now and I could do this week trip with no iPad along with. This is pleasure not business. The thought of that, no extra device bag, just stuffed cargo grandpa shorts is very appealing.

 

[gelous]

I'd be interested to see how they do a creaseless design, because the crease is always off-putting to my eyes, but I can't see ever owning a folding phone again.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Day 1 purchase for me. Why, because I’m a wealthy industrialist and I like the finer things in life. I spend $2k a month on aftershave.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

And how large is that market? It’s teensy tiny. Android folds aren’t exactly flying out of stores in customers’ hands, Apple coming into that market with a more expensive device and a 1st generation one at that, isn’t going to do any better. It will get some of the absolute hardest of hardcore with tons of money but a lot of people that have the money don’t like folding phones.

Foldables aren’t struggling because no one wants them they’re struggling because no one’s done them well. Apple’s playbook isn’t about being first, it’s about being the first that matters. They’ve turned niche into essential before, phones, tablets, watches and they didn’t need a booming market to do it. They make the market.

 

[deuxani]

Yeah I was debating with myself if it should be squared or rounded on the hinge side.

I think I just got overexcited with the curve tool.

I personally think the rounded corners on the square side look better, it creates an optical illusion that the square part is not there and the phone is symmetrical. I'm really curious how Apple will solve this as on their MacBooks they do use rounded corners on the top and square on the bottom. Also curious to see where they are going to position the camera on the inside screen. You've rendered a Dynamic Island, but it won't have FaceID so I assume it will just be a circle, but where will they put it...

But really great renders! Finally one based on the 4:3 inside screen and showcasing what that would mean for the size of the device and of the outside screen. It really has a small footprint in your pocket with it being so short.

 

[stevemiller]

Day 1 purchase for me. Why, because I’m a wealthy industrialist and I like the finer things in life. I spend $2k a month on aftershave.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Ive actually used a foldable phone. They are not "the way". Fold after fold after fold after fold. Moving parts are BAD, especially ones on a device that we carry everywhere. Apple will have to charge more like $3,500-$4,000. A lot of that money is part of the excellent customer service Apple has. Try calling Microsoft or IBM for support, and compare the difference yourself, assuming you can actually get a human from either of those companies. I dont see the "need" or "want" for this either. In fact, ive never heard anyone ever say, "I wish my iPhone would fold". Use an iPad pro which has the best screen on earth. And if it's only going to be as large as the iPad mini, then whats the point. it's so easy to carry an iPad mini with you or an iPad 11" Air, etc. This is not the way forward for an Apple. They need to be more creative and proactive rather than reactive.

Totally fair to be skeptical today’s foldables aren’t perfect. But “moving parts are bad” doesn’t really hold up when Apple’s been nailing hinges in MacBooks, AirPods etc for years. It’s about execution, not the concept.

No, people aren’t asking for foldable iPhones just like no one asked for an iPad or Apple Watch. Heck no one was asking for touch screen keyboard-less phones back before Apple first launched the iPhone. Apple doesn’t follow demand, it creates it. If they make a foldable that’s premium, durable, and seamless in their ecosystem, people will want it. Not to replace an iPad, but to bridge the gap. That’s innovation.

 

[innovare]

Looks like the old PDA's, the Casio and to a lesser extent the Palm devices...

 

[ooh456]

What’s the demand for foldable phones? I never see anyone using one for anything other than showing it’s a foldable phone.

I think there is a lot of pent-up demand by marketing people who work for phone manufacturers.

 

[flybass]

WHY? So not needed.

To each his own. That is my feeling generally on the iPad. I see this as filling a void for users that want a smaller screen phone with an iPad option. I also think this is more interesting differentiation than just the dimensions of gimping pro models and with screen size variation.

I’d love if this device has a case that can stay on while closed and stand it up at a nice viewing angle while fully open. I can see enjoying this for casually playing guitar. Usually I need to go grab my laptop for a big enough screen.

 

[Sippincider]

It'll still need some kind of display on the outside, as unfolding it many times a day just to check a text or notification would get very old very fast. (Not to mention the wear on even "perfected" hinges and glass.)

And no, Tim, I'm not buying a watch in addition to a $2000+ phone to get that functionality.

 

[hoorayforhollywood]

I can see foldable being the future but this will be an Apple Gen1 device, obviously, and so avoid at absolutely all costs. Why people buy their prototypes...

 

[Icehawk]

While I want nothing to do with a foldable phone right now, I am very curious to see what they've cooked up. They could have cracked the formula. It could also be a niche product. You never know.

 

[Alon1]

bring it on!
But please, please no touchID!

The initial premise sounds amazing but Touch ID kills it for me instantly. No way I’m going back to actively authenticating 150 times a day

 

[toodeep]

This sounds a lot like the Surface Duo, which was my best ever phone and perfect for productive thumb-based multitasking. Apple: CRUCIALLY this requires a system-wide 'back' gesture.

 

[hokuspokus]

I'm somewhat in the target audience for this. I use an iPhone and iPad Mini. I'd love to combine them into one. I don't always carry a bag so there are times when I wished I had my iPad Mini with me for better screen real estate (even if a phone's screen is larger, the long rectangle aspect ratio isn't great where 4:3 or 16:10 aspect ratios would be preferable).

I say "somewhat" though because a potential $2k+ USD price (for the base model I assume) is high. I don't mind not having some other "premium" features to get the price lower but I assume that'd hurt sales more. Most people want the "best" and, being Apple's first foldable, it's already in the premium category so skimping on features isn't likely unless there are technical limitations. Oh well. I may stick with the iPhone + base iPad Mini combo. We'll see.

 

[hokuspokus]

I've never understood why companies want to make a foldable phone. With foldable screens, wouldn't it be better to have an expandable phone, instead of foldable?

You wouldn't have to deal with the crease and the double thickness, and it would be more elegant to expand the phone screen to become and tablet-size phone.

Just like with foldable screens before, there are rollable/expanding screen prototypes of phones, tablets and notebooks from Samsung and other display/tech companies. I'm guessing it's more complex and may be the next generation of expanding display type devices.

I don't know how far the technology is but it'd be interesting to see if Samsung comes out with a Galaxy Z "Roll" just when Apple releases its first foldable.

 

[iZac]

Your renders look amazing. Samsung squares all corners. Google fillets all of them. I’d split the difference and square the hinge side and fillet the outside edge.

Haha, here you go - a hybrid version just for you