For years we've been hearing rumors that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, and so far that's about it: rumors. But there are enough to suggest design clues and features that could make it to the final device. It's unclear how long Apple has been working on a foldable phone, which may end up being called the iPhone Flip, or perhaps the iPhone Fold, but the tech giant is keeping its plans under wraps until it's ready to reveal them. Similarly, Apple has generally taken its time releasing its own version of new devices, so we weren't surprised that the device didn't debut alongside the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro in October 2020. It's possible that let's not see it with the iPhone. 13 neither. But getting a foldable phone with a level of polish from Apple is certainly enticing. Only a few devices have been widely released and phone makers have failed to address some of the biggest issues like screen durability and battery life. There's an old feeling that the smartphone era didn't really arrive until the first iPhone was released in 2007, and while that oversimplifies phone evolution, it also shows just how badly Apple's product designs influence types. of devices. For better or worse, there's a reason we have widespread facial recognition, but far fewer headphone jacks, for example. But Apple's resulting product is possibly the best version of a foldable we've ever seen. Here's everything we've heard, which isn't much at the moment, and what we'd like to see in a foldable iPhone. Latest news: A new rumor suggests that Apple's first foldable phone will be a flip-flop device available in a variety of bright colors. Furthermore, the same sources suggest that it won't land until 2023 at the earliest.
Come to the point
- What is it? Apple's first foldable phone
- When did it come out? We do not know; maybe 2022
- How much will it cost? Expect it to be expensive
Foldable iPhone launch date and price
Sadly, we haven't heard anything close to a release date for the device, let alone a solid release date for the foldable iPhone. Heck, we've only heard patent rumors and leaks, like Jon Prosser's talking about a "current prototype," suggesting that Apple may not even have finalized a design yet. Prosser later confirmed that the tech giant was working on a foldable, but hinted that it might not arrive this year. One source suggested that we won't see a foldable iPhone until 2023 at the earliest, and this report even suggested that it could be later as well. We might be a long way from a commercially available foldable iPhone, but since the company is keeping its new designs under wraps, the device could be more advanced than we think. We don't know how much it'll cost when it lands, either, but with many foldable phones costing upwards of $1000 / £1000 / AU$2000, you should expect this to be a steep price to pay. As for the name, we've only heard a rumor that it might be referred to as the iPhone Flip, likely referring to the Galaxy Z Flip-like patents we've seen that suggest a clamshell folding format.Foldable iPhone Leaks and Rumors
At this point, the foldable iPhone rumors fall into two camps: one suggests the device will have an actual foldable screen, and the other suggests two separate screens separated by a hinge. Several models were revealed in a patent dump in February 2019, some with a large screen within folding sections with a single hinge, while another had two hinges for three hypothetical screens that fold on themselves in a Z-shape. Image 1 of 3
Apple's "foldable" iPhone isn't really foldable. 🧐 The current prototype has two separate display panels on a hinge. Round stainless steel edges like the current iPhone 11 design No notch: small front on the outer screen that houses Face ID Jun 15, 2020 Although this is only a 'current prototype' and not a final design, it is described with rounded edges like the current iPhone 11, as opposed to the square edges on the iPhone 12 family. There's also no notch for the front cameras: the sensors that check Face ID will sit on a "little front" on the outer display , according to Prosser.
Foldable iPhone: five things we'd like to see
1. Leading Chambers
Folders bridge the gap between phones and tablets, but the ones we've seen coming out, like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate Xs, have the better cameras found on other flagship phones from those brands. While there's no reason to assume Apple wouldn't follow suit, the tech giant hasn't bothered to update the cameras on its iPads for generations. With the 2020 iPhone SE not seeming to improve on the goal of its predecessor, the iPhone 8, we could see Apple cutting costs by opting to give its foldable iPhone a single camera instead of the full suite seen on the iPhone 11. Pro and 11 Pro Max.
2. Compatibility with Apple Pencil
One way for Apple to outperform other foldables: by introducing Apple Pencil support. While we had expected Samsung to introduce stylus integration with its foldable devices, rumors have been swirling as to whether the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 will ship an S Pen stylus (seen on the Galaxy Tab S6 and Galaxy Note 10). Given how the Apple Pencil 2 attaches magnetically to the latest iPad Pro tablets, we'd love to see how Apple's stylus could fit on your foldable iPhone.
3. The old apple varnish
Yes, we'll say it: while the first series of foldables were impressive by simply doing away with folding screens, they exhibited design weaknesses, from hinge issues to cracked screens. We'd love to see a design that makes everything run smoothly and stands up to punishment. It's not that Apple's lineup is flawless, as broken iPhone screens, buggy butterfly keyboards, and battery throttling on older iPhones have shown. But at least in terms of looks and functionality, Apple has maintained a reputation for stylish, functional design.
4. Integration with iPadOS
When iPadOS was spun off from iOS, we were excited about the possibilities a new operating system offered to really tap into the real estate of iPad screens. So far we've been very happy with the multitasking features that allow us to pull up multiple apps at the same time, which we've personally found useful for typing in Google Docs while searching for things in Safari, for example. We'd like to see a version of the operating system on the foldable iPhone for the same reasons, though of course there are many unknowns. Will the device's screen be big enough to handle the iPadOS controls properly? If it stretches to 7,9 inches, the screen size of the iPad Mini, it could do it, but until we know what the foldable will look like, it's unclear how much it will work with an iPadOS.
5. Great battery life
Foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X have respectable battery life for first-generation devices, but we'd like more on Apple's vision of foldable phones. In general, iPhones aren't known to last more than a day, and Samsung and Huawei flagships come with higher capacity batteries (in milliamp hours) that seem to easily outperform them. We'd like to see Apple use the extra space on the device to maintain its own foldable lifespan longer than the competition.- Best iPhone: The Best Apple Phones You Can Buy Right Now