After a few years of speculation through patent applications and sample orders, HYPEBEAST ZH reported that two prototypes for a foldable iPhone passed Apple’s internal durability test.
According to reports from the Economic Daily News, these two models were recently manufactured at Foxconn’s factory in Shenzhen, China. The first one is reported as a dual screen model, which is in line with Jon Prosser’s forecast / leak – in July 2020: “the current prototype has two separate display panels on a hinge. Round stainless steel edges like the current iPhone 11 design. Notched – small forehead on the external screen that houses Face ID tweet reads. This supposed design is also consistent with Apple’s own movements: the company filed a patent for “electronic devices with flexible screens and hinges” in February 2020.
The second prototype, à la Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, is a shell. HYPEBEAST ZH says that this model will be “set for” the foldable screen samples that Apple allegedly ordered from Samsung in September 2020, according to Apple’s “Ice Universe” leak.
Rumors about the tests themselves have also surfaced in recent months. In November, the news came that Apple had shipped an iPhone for a series of more than 100,000 bearing tests to evaluate its hinge mechanism. These new reports do not elaborate on the differences between the hinge mechanisms in these two prototypes, but Apple is likely to have devoted that time to seeing what withstands the pressure of almost countless “open” and “close”.
However, Apple’s recent patent applications for a “self-healing” screen anticipate some roadblocks on the way for its devices – and perhaps signal lessons learned from Samsung’s durability problems with the Galaxy Fold.
While there were initial hopes that 2021 could be the year, Apple’s foldable iPhone is unlikely to be available until 2022 or 2023, according to the latest reports. But a 12.9-inch iPad Pro mini LED could arrive in early 2021.