Is Apple Making a Foldable iPhone?

 

                     Samsung's Galaxy Fold

Friday April 19, 2019 12:43 PM PDT by Juli Clover

Samsung in 2019 debuted the first folding smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, which is designed to convert from a 4.6-inch smartphone into a 7.3-inch tablet thanks to a hinge in the middle of the device.

Samsung's Galaxy Fold is super expensive and reviewers have experienced devices that break after just a couple of days of use, but foldable smartphones are a trend right now, and a trend that Apple might one day adopt.

Foldable iPhone Rumors

Hints of a foldable iPhone kicked off in 2016 when rumors suggested LG display would be mass producing foldable displays for smartphones in 2018 and supplying them to companies like Apple and Google.

Foldable display concept from LG
A 2017 rumor kept the folding iPhone concept alive, indicating Apple was partnering up with LG to develop an iPhone with a foldable display. LG has a number of foldable display prototypes that use flexible OLED panels, including one that folds over like a book and a second that rolls up like a newspaper.

Another foldable display concept from LG
More recently, Samsung has offered to supply foldable displays to Apple for use in future iPhones, and Apple supplier Corning is working on a foldable glass solution. Corning is a current Apple supplier, and foldable glass from Corning sounds promising for a future iPhone.

What's never been clear is if Apple has a foldable iPhone in active development or when such a device might launch. The 2019 iPhone lineup will look like the 2018 iPhone lineup with three standard iPhones in 5.8, 6.1, and 6.5-inch sizes, and thus far, there have been no foldable iPhone rumors for 2020 either.

Foldable iPhone Patents

Apple patents all kinds of things that never become finished products so patents aren't necessarily a reliable way to predict what's in development, but Apple has a few foldable iPhone patents.


Apple's first foldable iPhone patent surfaced in 2016, describing a smartphone that folds in half horizontally using a flexible OLED display and a hinged metal support structure. Both halves of the display remain accessible when the phone is shut, and there are also drawings depicting devices with multiple folds.


A 2019 patent application describes foldable smartphone with a built-in heating element or display heating feature to cut down on failures at the fold in cold temperatures, a problem that has the potential to impact foldable smartphones.

When Will Apple Launch a Foldable iPhone?

There's no concrete evidence at this time that a foldable iPhone is in the works for a near future launch. A note from a Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst in 2018 suggested a foldable iPhone would come in 2020, but there have been no other similar predictions.

We're already seeing some rumors about the 2020 iPhones and none of those rumors have mentioned foldable iPhone technology. A foldable iPhone is unlikely to come out before 2021 for that reason, if one is in the works at all.

What Will Apple's Foldable iPhone Look Like?

With no concrete rumors about a foldable iPhone in the works, there's no word on what form a foldable device might take.

As reference examples, we've seen foldable smartphones that fold vertically both inwards and outwards from Samsung and Huawei. Apple's patents have featured a device that folds horizontally and is not quite as wide as smartphones from Huawei and Samsung's versions, but Apple's patents are conceptual.

Foldable iPhone concept
We don't know what Apple's foldable smartphone might look like until it's further along in development.

What's the Competition?

As mentioned above, Samsung has come out with the Galaxy Fold, a $1,980 smartphone that folds in half inwards thanks to a hidden hinge in the middle.

Samsung's Galaxy Fold
Early reviews for Samsung's device haven't been great, so it remains to be seen if the foldable smartphone trend will catch on. Samsung has other folding smartphones in the works, though, so it sounds like the South Korean company isn't ready to abandon a trend that it kicked off.

Samsung's Galaxy Fold
Huawei has also come out with a folding smartphone, the Mate X, which is priced at $2,600. Unlike the Galaxy Fold, the Mate X folds outwards instead of inwards, which gives it a display on both sides when closed. The Mate X measures in at 6.6 inches in smartphone mode and 8 inches when expanded. 

Source:News Now.

Huawai's Mate X

Breaking: Snakes chase Liberian President ‘George Weah’ away from his office BBC citing the Press secretary, Mr Smith Toby, said that two black snakes were found in the foreign affairs ministry building, Weah’s official place of work. ADVERTISING In view of this, therefore, all staff have been told to stay away until 22 April. “It’s just to make sure that crawling and creeping things get fumigated from the building. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts the office of the president, so it did an internal memo asking the staff to stay home while they do the fumigation”, Mr Toby said. The office of the president has been based in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since a fire in 2006 gutted the nearby presidential mansion. However, workers tried to kill the snakes but did not succeed. “The snakes were never killed,” Mr Toby said. “There was a little hole somewhere through which they made their way back.” Recall that similar incident happened in Nigeria when his Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari left the country for about three months on a medical ground. 21 kidnappers went blind in Delta forest after abducting me — Bishop Okokporo Following the three months period of disuse, rodents caused a lot of damage to the furniture’s and interiors in his office, making it impossible for him to operate from the office in that condition. However, Police and presidential securities were seen guarding Mr Weah’s residence in the capital Monrovia. A fleet of vehicles including escorts jeeps were parked outside. Mr Toby said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started to fumigate the area. “That building has been there for years now, and because of the drainage system, the possibility of having things like snakes crawling in that building was high”. The president is definitely returning to his office on Monday after the fumigation, whether or not the snakes are found and killed, Mr Toby said. Related Weah makes first appointments Weah makes first appointments January 23, 2018 Weah's cabinet another big headache Weah's cabinet another big headache January 27, 2018 Liberia seeks 6,000 teachers from Nigeria Liberia seeks 6,000 teachers from Nigeria March 5, 2018 Read Also: Chukwu discharged, to be flown abroad Vanguard PROMOTED Kogi Guber: PDP leaders meet in Abuja, set eyes on victory 24/7 On-Site Emergency Maintenance, Abundant Walk-In Closets, Bike Storage Room, Built-...forrent.com Video: Dangote laughs as singer Teni changes name to ‘Dangote’ 2 Bedroom/1.5 Bath Townhouses, Full Storage Basements, Individual Gas & Electric Meters...forrent.com Ask About Pet Policy, Bilingual Staff, Close to Public Transportation, Dishwashers, Gar...forrent.com Melt Belly Fathimselfenews.com Military search: Israeli riffle, 37 other weapons recovered, 11 suspects arr Nwafor Polycarp View all posts by Nwafor Polycarp → Previous Post senate EFCC must probe 8th NASS over Legislative aides’ pay – Group Next Post Ebiraland Chief Imam of Ebiraland, Alhaji Galadima, 98, is dead Disclaimer Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof. Latest News 8:18 pmEaster: Fayose upbeat about future of Nigeria 8:17 pmEaster: Oba Ewuare urges Christians to reflect on the teachings of Jesus Christ 8:12 pmOur governor-elect will pay us N32,000 as our minimum wage – Adamawa NUT 8:04 pmFatherhood Fraud: How long can pretense last?! 7:52 pmCollaborating with Yemi Alade wasn’t meant to boost my music career — Soft 7:47 pmI’m not an occasional musician — VJ Adams 7:41 pmI care less about quick popularity — ED iZycs 7:37 pmWhy it seems like I quit music — Sean Tizzle 7:34 pmWhat my 20-years music journey has taught me —Tuface Idibia 7:19 pmCourt denies security guard bail due to high rate of rape cases 7:12 pm3 in court for impersonating King Sunny Ade to defraud public 7:06 pmMan remanded in Kirikiri for allegedly defiling sisters aged 3, 7 6:56 pmCourt denies varsity student bail over allege gang-rape 6:48 pmMan in court for allegedly stabbing father to death 6:41 pmN1bn Imo debt: Court grants leave for 17 banks to show cause not to garnishee state accounts 6:27 pmMan steals three underwear belonging to his employer 6:15 pm‘Impact of Ambode’s administration felt in virtually every part of Lagos’ 6:12 pmFG sues for peace ahead of clean-up in Ogoniland 6:08 pmSupport Obaseki’s devt. agenda, Oba of Benin urges Edo civil servants 5:53 pmNobody is above the law in Edo – govt View All Editorial Celebrating Easter responsibly EASTER bespeaks eloquently of sadness before joy, pain before gain and the treasures that are often cleverly hidden unde... As MMIA Road comes alive Leaders must build lasting legacies Need to pass Police reform bills Foreign Brexit, Theresa May She’ll leave after Brexit, what will PM Theresa May do next? The Prime Minister appears to be boosting her CV in preparation for life after Brexit. Theresa May has already confirmed... Lyra McKee: Journalist shot dead in N.Ireland in ‘terrorist incident’ Game of Thrones actor, Jason Momoa, shaves beard to promote environmental protection I saw Jesus in Notre Dame Cathedral flames, woman recounts Estonia president holds first meeting with Putin in years Sponsored Breakthrough NAFDAC Approved Solution to Get Stronger Erections and Stamina to Last 25minutes in Bed That Pharmacy & Drugstores Do Not Want You to Find out… Revealed! Some few years ago, before I met my wife and got married to her… I travelled to another state for some work... It’s Another Edition of GTBank Food & Drink! Get Ready for the Biggest Food Experience in Africa | April 28th – May 1st Stakeholders to Expect More Than Regular Banking as Access Bank Unveils New Logo Countdown to the GTBank Food and Drink Masterclass: More Culinary Experts Announced Turn your itunes gift cards to naira – CRANERMINE Huawei to launch HUAWEI Y6 Prime 2019 with Dewdrop Display, Unique Design and 13MP Camera. Forex and Options Trading: A Second Source of Income Cartoons Mr & Mrs Related Most Commented Just in: Ebonyi state university names institute after Buratai80 STATE OF THE NATION: Nigeria's economy bleeding, Aare Adams tells Buhari195 Senate Presidency: Igbo kwenu warns APC against marginalizing S-East47 Prophet Nwoko, Biafra activist, butchered in his Enugu residence102 Atiku: INEC denies arrest of ICT Staff by DSS22 INDIGENVIDEO Trending Breaking: Buhari signs minimum wage into law PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed the National Minimum Wage Bill into law. Breaking: CCT fires Walter Onnoghen as CJN (VIDEO) Breaking: Soldiers arrest Vice Chairman who gives information to bandits, kidnappers in Zamfara Nigerians descend on Keyamo for saying ‘Buhari is friend of the poor!’ NIGERIA: Lady Justice has fallen Shocker! Robbers break into police station, steal rifles, ammunition as officers watch UEFA match Revealed: How NYSC concealed death of corps member in Bauchi camp Breaking: Olowo of Owo, Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi is dead (VIDEO) She attended Caleb, Vivian Fowler, ended up as cocaine addict 9th NASS: Fresh crisis looms in APC over leadership slots Videos Tanker crushes Okada rider to death in Lagos Video: Buhari arrives N’DJamena for CED SAD meeting Okorocha speaks on his Certificate of Return after meeting with Buhari Video Vanguard Women Round Table RSS Alllure News Gospel singer, Busola Oke expresses gratitude to God for saving her life Oby Ezekwesili extols mum’s virtues at 77 I was snubbed, hissed at before I became a star -Denrele Edun Adekunle Gold celebrates Simi on first birthday as Mrs. Kosoko Forbes coach, Tamiko Cuellar launches ‘Own Your Brilliance’ tour in Abuja Teju Babyface twins clock one Nigerian Stock Exchange Nigerian Stock Exchange Selloff sentiment persists as investors lose N103bn in 4 days Selloff sentiment persisted in the Nigeria equity market, lengthening losses to four successive trading session as inves... Nigeria equity market extends negative outlook, down by 0.35% Equity market sustains positive performance as NSE index up 0.14% E-editions CLICK VIEW TO THE NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES Download Official News App

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/breaking-snakes-chase-liberian-president-george-weah-away-from-his-office/