I don’t wana see anything in a “foldable” iPhone. Either Samson or iPhone I would never buy a Foldable Phone
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What Would You Like to See in a Foldable iPhone?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Sounds more like a foldable iPad to me, which would be far more useful. Easier to toss in a small bag, easier to prop up on a table when you want to to some typing or even music production with keyboard at your fingers and work area facing you, but can still flatten out to the slab for full screen usage.
No interest.
Samsung last week announced its fourth-generation foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold 4, and as a result, some iPhone customers may be wondering about the future of a foldable iPhone.
Apple is indeed working on a foldable iPhone, but details about it remain scarce and somewhat vague. We've rounded up a few notable rumors below and want to hear from you; what would you like to see in a foldable iPhone? Let us know in the comments!
Hardware Features
- Building on an existing relationship, Apple is likely working closely with Corning to develop a special display glass for the foldable iPhone that's both tough and durable and thin and flexible.
- Rumors have fluctuated regarding the size of the foldable iPhone, with some reports saying it'll be around 9-inches and have a PPI (pixels-per-inch) between an iPhone and an iPad. Other reports say Apple has internally tested a device that opens up to 6.7-inches, similar to the size of current Pro Max iPhones.
- A research firm has suggested the foldable iPhone could support the Apple Pencil, utilizing its larger display to allow for easier note taking, drawing, sketching, and more on the device.
- Rather than typical foldable phones on the market, a rumor from Apple leaker Jon Prosser suggests that Apple is working on a foldable device with two separate screens connected via a hinge and not one single, continuous display.
Software and OS
- It remains to be seen whether Apple will, at some point, combine the iPhone and iPad into a single product, offering an iPhone when folded and an iPad-like experience when unfolded. In that case, we may see the foldable device running a hybrid between iOS and iPadOS, but that remains purely speculative.
Price and Launch Date
- Samsung's Galaxy Fold 4 starts at a steep $1,800, and while it's too early to tell what market Apple will want to target with its foldable device, Samsung's pricing does offer a little bit of context.
- According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, we're now unlikely to see a foldable iPhone until at least 2025 or later, so there are still many years to go until we may see anything hit the market.
For more in-depth information about what we know about a foldable iPhone, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide. Plus, don't forget to let us know what you want to see in a foldable iPhone below.
Article Link: What Would You Like to See in a Foldable iPhone?
Yes, it'll all be about the implementation. Apple don't even need to nail the hardware - they can just wait till Samsung nail the hardware and then use that - millions of iPhones are already using Samsung displays, so no reason Apple couldn't just use Samsung's folding displays when they feel the tech is ready.
Foldables need to evolve to something lighter/thinner, possibly rollable screens or some other paradigm not yet invented. I absolutely love today's foldables (at least for the Z Fold series), but I think of them as foldable tablets because when unfolded they are "normal" size, thickness, weight, etc. I still think the category needs to be dubbed "shrinking" phones because not all paradigms are folding, but I guess technology and the news will cross that bridge when it comes.
I'm not sure if Apple would ever cannibalize their ipad and iphone duopoly by introducing a foldable phone. Apple lives by convincing consumers they need an iPhone AND an iPad (and a Macbook also!). Introducing a foldable phone would possibly eat into their hardware market, just like if they introduced an iPad with MacOS. Heck a foldable tablet with MacOS would really tank them.
On the hinged 2-screen design, IMO I highly doubt Apple would consider such a half baked notion. You can see just how far Microsoft went with that notion on their ill-fated Duo devices. Although some tiny nugget of logic might suggest that's Apple's way of still keeping the iPad relevant for those who wanted a true full screen.
I think the biggest confusion I have is with forum members having zero forward vision and encapsulating the entire paradigm of having a tablet shrink to phone size under the "foldable" method, although I can't blame them much as that's how the paradigm is portrayed and no other paradigm has yet come forth. But I cringe every time I read the another completely idiotic "a solution in search of a problem" or being a "gimmick" label, as if having a larger screen in a more portable package wasn't always the holy grail.
I'm not sure if Apple would ever cannibalize their ipad and iphone duopoly by introducing a foldable phone. Apple lives by convincing consumers they need an iPhone AND an iPad (and a Macbook also!). Introducing a foldable phone would possibly eat into their hardware market, just like if they introduced an iPad with MacOS. Heck a foldable tablet with MacOS would really tank them.
On the hinged 2-screen design, IMO I highly doubt Apple would consider such a half baked notion. You can see just how far Microsoft went with that notion on their ill-fated Duo devices. Although some tiny nugget of logic might suggest that's Apple's way of still keeping the iPad relevant for those who wanted a true full screen.
I think the biggest confusion I have is with forum members having zero forward vision and encapsulating the entire paradigm of having a tablet shrink to phone size under the "foldable" method, although I can't blame them much as that's how the paradigm is portrayed and no other paradigm has yet come forth. But I cringe every time I read the another completely idiotic "a solution in search of a problem" or being a "gimmick" label, as if having a larger screen in a more portable package wasn't always the holy grail.
Last edited:
I am absolutely certain people who keep calling foldable are gimmicky have never used it extensively. Foldables are absolutely good. If you want to diss crease and unoptimized screen rest, that's all good, but just dismissing it as gimmicky, I just cannot agree with it.
I mean, why would you dismiss product that has large viewing plane that can be folded in half for easier carrying? I just don't get it.
I mean, why would you dismiss product that has large viewing plane that can be folded in half for easier carrying? I just don't get it.
Because there is no compromise anymore. Instead of "I see the value, but the trade-offs are too much for me to consider it for my daily driver," you get "hur dur a solution in search of a problem it's gimmicky" nonsense.
I have a Galaxy Fold 2 (had it since launch) with the Fold 4 on the way. And I have to admit, foldables is not for everyone. It can be bulky and weighty.
But trying to rationalize with Apple enthusiast is a lose-lose situation. Apple can launch a foldable today and those who were against it.. would buy it. However, if you were to approach them and ask why the change of heart… it would be “Apple did it right.”
As much as I like the Fold series. I prefer Mate Xs foldable version… eliminates the potential crease issue and Samsung doesn’t have to concern itself with UDC or having 3 different camera sections.
The Mate's are very enticing, and resolve some of the issues for sure, although personally I still like having the folding screen protected when closed. I also really like the Xiaomi one which is only 5.4mm thick when unfolded and from what I understand has a much smaller crease, too bad it's not coming to the states anytime soon.
I'd honestly be interested in a Surface Duo style device, if it wasn't gimped and could lay flat when folded open.
Then again I always had a soft spot for the Vaio P so what do I know?
Then again I always had a soft spot for the Vaio P so what do I know?
Foldables are definitely interesting, but when people say that a foldable iPhone would make the iPad useless, they forget one basic thing: size. The iPad MINI is more than 2x the area of an iPhone 13 Pro Max. You cannot even get an iPad mini with a “foldable biggest iPhone”. And that’s not even considering that the actual footprint couldn’t be duplicated, and without taking into account thickness/weight. As I said, still interesting, but let’s set real expectations.