That’s it, Apple has just filed a patent which suggests that the company is in turn embarking on the adventure of folding phones. However, we currently have no launch date or real image to put in our mouths. Budding designers therefore had a field day imagining what a folding iPhone might look like.
Many competitors have already announced their folding phones, such as the Galaxy Fold 5 from Samsung or the Huawei Mate X3, which is already available. Rumors even surrounded Apple, which obviously does not intend to miss the boat and has already filed a patent for a device that is not folding, but rollable. It would currently be called iPhone Flip or iPhone Fold, according to rumors. As usual, the firm intends to upset the smartphone world by innovating as much as possible.
Flexible screens: a rapidly evolving technology
Apple’s desire to go down the folding phone route is not recent. Since 2014, the company has been considering the use of roll-up screens to equip some of its devices. Although very few details are currently known, experts expect a release between 2024 and 2025. It is possible that Apple will extend its rollable screen patent to other devices such as televisions or screens fitted to vehicles.
According to the elements of the patents filed, the iPhone could be equipped with new capabilities. They suggest that the screen would be much stronger than a classic foldable screen and composed of four distinct layers, one of which could be made of sapphire. There would also be a shell with self-repairing capabilities to prevent the appearance of deformations or scratches on the slab. But, remember, nothing is certain at the moment.
Although no design has leaked yet, many designers have taken to the issue to come up with their ideas. Some proposals would bring it much closer to what is done at Samsung, others are more innovative. For example, one can imagine a small part of the screen that would unfold from the chassis of the phone as soon as the user needs it. In any case, there is room for speculation!
Potentially competitive prices
According to rumors, Apple could offer this future product at a “reasonable” price by positioning itself correctly on the prices of other folding smartphones. Again, this information should be taken with a grain of salt, since no official announcement has been made. The starting price could be around that of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is $1,099. A relatively affordable price that would attract customers to this new screen technology.
However, other sources are less reassuring about the introductory price. If Apple’s new toy can turn into a tablet, the bill could be much higher, around $2,000 this time. Something to cool some people down a bit.
Among Apple fans, some have surely been waiting for their folding iPhone for a while. The recent filing of this patent confirms that the brand is working on the project. The same questions remain unanswered about this technology: what about the durability of the screen? Many folding phones have had reliability issues. However, we have no point of comparison when it comes to a completely rollable screen.
Sources: Patently Apple, Tom’s Guide
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