Apple is reportedly working on the design of a folding iPhone, with a design reminiscent of that of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. Looking forward to seeing such a project come to fruition, even if we will have to wait a long time.
A few months ago, Apple launched its iPhone 15 range. I didn’t really find what I was looking for. The changes made at the margins are not convincing enough to make you want to buy without thinking, giving the impression that Apple’s flagship product has become “boring” for a few generations. However, there is one way that would allow the iPhone to be “more fun”: finally, adopt the folding format.
In an article published on February 7, 2024, The Information indicates that the Cupertino company is in the process of developing at least two folding iPhones. The design would follow that of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, with a square that unfolds horizontally to become a smartphone with a large screen. This form factor convinced me with the Z Flip 5, for which I opted instead of an iPhone 15: it is both refreshing, fun and full of nostalgia (flip phones are not new). But I miss iOS. So here I am torn between my software habits and my desire to have an original smartphone, and I’m probably not the only one.
No folding iPhone before 2026?
If Samsung is already on its fifth iteration of the Z Flip (with nice improvements made to the hinge in 2023), Apple would still be very cautious. This is the philosophy of the company, which prefers to wait in order to release a 100% finished product. Apple wants to avoid wiping out the plaster and, when its folding iPhone comes out, it will truly be “perfect”. We can also trust Apple on how the small screen could be used outside (when the smartphone is folded). Samsung restricts it by default, which is a shame. We imagine more in-depth interactions with iOS, with real utility.
However, Apple engineers have isolated several problems that need to be resolved:
- The design is still very fragile and could break far too easily. It’s true: I wouldn’t want to drop my Z Flip 5 with the screen unfolded.
- The idea is to offer a folding smartphone as thin as the iPhones sold today. Issue ? The size of the battery and the components of the screen prevent this from being easily achieved.
- The bulge that appears at the hinge when the screen is unfolded must disappear as much as possible. That’s another challenge.
These engineering challenges suggest that Apple still needs certain technologies to mature to be optimized. Therefore, The Information reports that a folding iPhone will not enter production in 2024 or 2025, which foreshadows a possible launch in 2026 (at the earliest). At the same time, Apple could release a folding iPad, a mini model with an 8-inch screen.
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