Two Foldable iPhone Prototypes Reportedly Pass Internal Durability Tests

[Analog Kid]

I always assumed Apple kept their prototyping internal in Cupertino. Especially for a new product category years before release... Would they really have sent something like this to a Foxconn factory in China— seems like that would be begging for a leak.

And I suspect any patents we’ve seen are for concepts they’ve chosen not to pursue. They wouldn’t leak a future product through the patent office unless something went very wrong and delayed development by years.

This whole story sounds doubtful to me. I suspect it’s not multiple corroborating sources so much as a rumor echo chamber...

 

[Lerxt]

I'll pay $100 more if its not made in China.

 

[lJoSquaredl]

Personal opinion, foldables don’t seem to be better at anything than a smartphone or a tablet. It makes for cool demo, but it seems like a mediocre tablet and phone combo.

This is the problem imo, it doesn’t do much of anything better, just a half assed version of each. It may conserve a bit of space depending on if you even need that, but it also adds a feature that can weaken or break over time anyways. Plus adding a step to use the phone (unfolding) seems counter intuitive to people using siri or adding shortcuts to cut out steps.

 

[iGüey]

I want it! 😃

 

[Zwhaler]

Yeah but I feel like it’s too small for tablet viewing and too bulky compared to most modern smartphones.

Is an iPad mini too small for tablet viewing? They're only 0.3 inches apart. It's bulkier than average but fits in a pocket better than 12 Pro Max / Note 20 Ultra.

 

[dannyyankou]

Is an iPad mini too small for tablet viewing? They're only 0.3 inches apart. It's bulkier than average but fits in a pocket better than 12 Pro Max / Note 20 Ultra.

Yes I switched to an iPad mini from an iPad Air, and I found it too small. I switched back to an iPad Air.

 

[return2sendai]

Ah... the magic hinge

With “pro motion”

 

[rols]

I'll pass if when folded it's thicker than a current iPhone.

Then you, like me, will pass. For anyone who thinks they might want this, take two iPhones, stick them back-to-back and put the resultant combination in your pocket. The resulting product may not be quite that thick, but it won't be far off.

 

[dwaltwhit]

Great, I can't wait to get back to Apple, but I've been immensely enjoying my Galaxy Fold 2. To me foldable phones are a complete paradigm changer and I don't think I could ever go back. I'm hoping some different concepts come to fruition such as rollable screens instead of foldable, but they are all under the same paradigm.

Just waiting for the inevitable "Why would anyone want a foldable phone?", which will change to "Wow why didn't anyone else think of this?" the minute Apple releases one.

Absolutely no sarcasm at all: what is so great about foldable? I don’t understand.

 

[farewelwilliams]

I don't understand, what 80% use do you compromise? What 20% do you make slightly better? I don't feel I've compromised anything at all, actually it's increased my ability to use my phone by quite a bit.

- Makes it harder to stretch my thumb when using a thick phone with one hand
- No room in the budget (and/or possibly inside the phone) to include a camera that is as good as their latest flagships
- Because it's a folding screen, it has a plastic screen protector which doesn't feel as nice as just straight glass. I guess you can peel it but who knows what will happen (does that void warranty?)
- I'm likely going to be using the outer screen more than the inner screen. Outer screen isn't 120hz
- Fingerprint sensor is on the side, not under the screen which most prefer. People unlock their phones nearly a 100 times a day.
- No IP rating which means you have to be careful when using it around a swimming pool
- Using unsupported apps in an unfolded way creates a disgusting crease in the middle which pretty much means you should use it on the cover screen. But the cover screen is harder to type due to the narrow width.

 

[cwt2nospam]

I like to think that Apple will do a good job of this concept. They'll no doubt bring a lot more to the table with their H/W and S/W control.

The problem is that the concept is flawed. There is no material that can be folded many thousands of times without failing. How many times to you look at your phone during the day? Four? Five? Twenty?

 

[vikingjunior]

Now bring on the foldable watches.

 

[FlyingTexan]

Personal opinion, foldables don’t seem to be better at anything than a smartphone or a tablet. It makes for cool demo, but it seems like a mediocre tablet and phone combo.

Yea except it will be faster than an intel and capable of running a desktop no problem. Walk to office, cast it to screen, start working on whatever. Goodbye enterprise desktops.

 

[SchrodingersMartian]

This sounds awesome and I know Apple is going to knock it out the park with the Foldable devices. Buying up that AAPL stock now also.

 

[Abazigal]

Yea except it will be faster than an intel and capable of running a desktop no problem. Walk to office, cast it to screen, start working on whatever. Goodbye enterprise desktops.

Sounds good on paper, but how many people are going to work like that? Makes more sense to just invest in a separate laptop which is going to be cheaper and more convenient for the majority of users.

And it also means my phone is going to be tethered to the desk. So every time I want to leave my table (say to go to the pantry or toilet or run a quick errand, I need to disconnect my phone if I want to bring it with me, vs a laptop which I can just leave docked).

And what happens when I am outside without access to a monitor and keyboard?

Feels like this is creating a lot of extra problems just to solve a non-existent one.

 

[LeadingHeat]

The only thing Apple really needs to do is make folded mode as usable and ergonomic as the iPhone is now. Save the open-mode for when your stationary. The average smartphone user unlocks their device over 80 times a day. As long as it's fully capable without unfolding, with no compromises, a folding iPhone would gain traction.

I could see that. Great point of view! I just hope it wouldn’t be super thick. We’re used to thinner phones and it wouldn’t be great to be holding a brick all of a sudden. And what about cases? How would a case work on a phone that changes sizes?

 

[Freyqq]

I really like the Surface phone model as it looks like a much more durable direction

 

[G5isAlive]

Creasing will surely always be an issue. I wouldn’t be able to unsee the crease

you use only one screen with your computer? I love using two. I’m not bothered by the space between. I can live with a crease for more screen space for productivity.

 

[iLLUMI]

I hope they're working on rollable phones too.
I'm not a fan of foldable devices but rollables have captured my attention.

 

[FlyingTexan]

Sounds good on paper, but how many people are going to work like that? Makes more sense to just invest in a separate laptop which is going to be cheaper and more convenient for the majority of users.

And it also means my phone is going to be tethered to the desk. So every time I want to leave my table (say to go to the pantry or toilet or run a quick errand, I need to disconnect my phone if I want to bring it with me, vs a laptop which I can just leave docked).

And what happens when I am outside without access to a monitor and keyboard?

Feels like this is creating a lot of extra problems just to solve a non-existent one.

A lot of people. One device to rule them all? Bring it.

 

[Bonte]

I don't think the technique and price are there yet, it would work great on an iPad. But I'm guessing it's for a new product altogether, VR glasses, something with curved displays.

 

[MacMediaNet]

iPhone 12 mini is big and heavy compared to the old good 5S or SE... And this foldable thick monster? Definitely not on my wish list.

 

[AnthonyHarris]

I find it hilarious when people make this kind of statement about a product that doesn't even exist yet. So closed minded. You probably complained about the lack of physical keyboard on the first iPhone or wondered why you would need an iPad because its just "a bigger iPhone".

It only takes an ounce of imagination to see a use case: when folded, use as a normal sized phone like you always had. When unfolded, its gives you a broader canvas to watch movies, work on documents, use two apps at once, etc. Its like having the benefits of an iPhone pro max size screen (but bigger) in the form factor of an iPhone mini when you're not using it. Tons of people would find this useful.

Was that so hard?

While I see your points and hope Apple deliver it for the people that want this, I have an iPhone and iPad Pro. I can take both with me in a bag to where ever I am going, (which at the moment is just the living room) and use both quickly and conveniently without having to compromise at all.

I admire the efforts in innovative design from people using flexible screen technology, but it’s delicacy is why I wouldn’t buy it. Not because I don’t think it’s clever, but because it just isn’t a good idea.

At least with glass, you have to be extremely careless to scratch it, while Samsung’s foldable offerings at least, catching the screen with your nail will make irreparable marks.

 

[Abazigal]

I find it hilarious when people make this kind of statement about a product that doesn't even exist yet. So closed minded. You probably complained about the lack of physical keyboard on the first iPhone or wondered why you would need an iPad because its just "a bigger iPhone".

It only takes an ounce of imagination to see a use case: when folded, use as a normal sized phone like you always had. When unfolded, its gives you a broader canvas to watch movies, work on documents, use two apps at once, etc. Its like having the benefits of an iPhone pro max size screen (but bigger) in the form factor of an iPhone mini when you're not using it. Tons of people would find this useful.

Was that so hard?

I am not convinced a phone twice the thickness of the current iPhone would make for a great experience. Having to unfold and fold it every time I take it out of my pocket feels like it would become a hassle very quickly as well.

I think a tablet that folds into a laptop form factor makes much more sense. You aren't really giving anything up (fold it into two gives the same thickness as a laptop closed), and if Apple is experimenting with a virtual keyboard with haptic feedback, this would be the logical choice to include such a feature.

 

[Whathappened]

I think this is absolutely the best design to forever enforce iPhone upgrades every three years (or whatever the new warranty period will be). You thought a non-user replaceable battery was good for business? This is great? What a great concept for Apple stockholders.

I can see it now. You're folding it too many times. Fold-gate. Can't wait.

Looks like you feel an urge to try to be the first to drop names when something new comes up. Try to be cool.
Btw the more fun way would be “avoid folding it that way” which is far closer to the original “avoid holding it that way”.