- A leak says Apple is working on a second foldable iPhone prototype, but the shell-shaped device would not be released anytime soon.
- The foldable iPhone would look like the Galaxy Z Flip phone, with a foldable OLED screen from Samsung.
- The device may have a release date of at least September 2022, but there are no guarantees of any kind.
Samsung has been teasing folding phones for years before finally diving into the market last year. Samsung felt it was ready to launch the world’s first foldable device, which ended up not being the world’s first foldable device. And the Galaxy Fold also ended up not being a well thought out design. Samsung had to cancel the launch in late April after analysts found two major problems with the phone. The folding screen featured a screen protector-like cover that would destroy the screen if removed. In addition, the hinge allowed debris to enter the phone, which also impacted the screen. It took Samsung five months to launch a redesigned version of the device. The Z Flip and Z Fold 2 that followed did not repeat these errors. But the failed launch of the Galaxy Fold proved that the technology was not ready for the type of smartphone that many people wanted.
Moving towards the end of 2020, we have a new rumor detailing the type of folding device that many people would like to see. This is a shell-shaped iPhone with a foldable screen similar to the Z Flip. But that device will not arrive anytime soon.
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YouTuber Jon Prosser, who has become a big hitter, said a few months ago that Apple is developing a foldable iPhone similar to the Galaxy Z Flip. But instead of having a continuous folding screen, this device features two separate monitors separated by a hinge in the middle.
In a new video, Prosser said Apple is also making the prototype of a foldable iPhone with a shell-shaped design that would feature a single foldable screen. Apple is testing projectiles at a Foxconn factory in Shenzhen. It is not the full phone they are testing, according to their sources. Instead, they are looking at the durability of the hinge. The phone would end up featuring a foldable Samsung display instead of a microLED panel.
The report says that Apple will decide on one of the two folding prototypes described above, rather than launching one of each. Reports saying a foldable iPhone may be good in September 2022 are “a good guess,” says Prosser. A version in 2022 or 2023 would make sense, considering current progress.
Samsung is expected to launch at least one new foldable next year, and other Android device vendors could do the same. After all, Huawei and Motorola have already launched their first foldable devices, and several other Chinese smartphone manufacturers have created some of their concepts.
When the first foldable iPhone arrives in 2022 or later, there will be many foldable devices on the market.
It is not uncommon to see Apple spending its time on new technologies. The good news here is that Apple is not rushing the foldable iPhone. Apple will do this whenever it is sure that it can offer a premium folding experience. Until then, we hope to see more innovations that will benefit foldable devices, including better folding glass screen and hinge technologies that will increase the durability of such devices. Not to mention that the price has to drop significantly. Even phones like the Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola’s foldable Razr are more expensive than regular high-tech models.
In addition, there is no guarantee that Apple will move forward with its foldable plans for the iPhone if the final product does not meet its standards. Apple’s patents prove that the company is studying all kinds of technologies, even if not all of them reach commercial products.
The full video of Prosser follows below.
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby and, before he knew it, was sharing his views on technology with readers around the world. Whenever he’s not writing about gadgets, he fails miserably to stay away from them, although he tries desperately. But this is not necessarily a bad thing.