Apple starts work early to fold the iPhone, testing the Touch ID on the screen for ‘iPhone 13’

According to a Bloomberg report Friday, Apple has not yet solidified plans to launch a foldable iPhone. So far, it has developed prototypes of foldable screens for internal testing, but the work has not extended far beyond the screen.

Apple’s foldable screen allegedly relies on an “almost invisible hinge with electronic components positioned behind the screen”. The tech giant in Cupertino also discussed several screen size options, including a device that can be deployed in a 6.7-inch area, such as the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Bloomberg notes that Apple does not yet have a full device prototype yet and points out that a foldable iPhone is years away or may never be launched.

Rumors of an “iPhone Fold” have surfaced periodically for years, although the concept exists mainly in the form of several patents. Previous reports have suggested that Apple is internally testing foldable iPhone prototypes.

Instead of a foldable iPhone, Apple is focusing on its next line of iPhone and iPad devices to launch in late 2021. Internally, 2021 appears to be an “S” year for the iPhone, with few major design or feature changes in compared to the iPhone 12 series.

Apple is still testing a major significant update for the so-called “iPhone 13”, which is a fingerprint reader on the display.

The company abandoned Touch ID on its core devices in 2017, but the fingerprint authentication system is still used on several current iPhone, iPad and Mac models. There are also indications that Apple is working to bring the feature back for your premium devices to complement Face ID.

In August 2019, TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the iPhone 2021 line could feature both Face ID and Touch ID. Qualcomm, considered the likely supplier of the fingerprint sensor components, also recently launched a much faster fingerprint reader.

The company is also considering eliminating the charging port on a future iPhone model, leaving the MagSafe charger and Qi as the only charging technologies available. For the iPad, Apple is planning a new iPad Pro similar to the current model, but with a mini LED screen and a faster processor.

Finally, Bloomberg confirms that Apple will launch an “AirTags” tracking device in 2021.