Apple is said to be contacting partners in Asia to prepare for a clamshell folding iPhone model in 2026.
The Information quoted sources from the supply chain saying that the first folding screen iPhone will have a design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. The device has code V68, thinner than the current bar iPhone. Apple's goal is to ensure the device is not too thick even when folded.
Apple is working with partners in Asia, but it is estimated that it will take two years to produce the new iPhone model. Therefore, it will take until 2026 for the product to appear on the market.
A concept for a clamshell folding iPhone.
According to Arstechnica, Apple has put a lot of effort into designing and solving the problem of screen folds, but there are still other challenges. In particular, the company must find attractive enough features on a folding device, especially when the price of folding smartphones is more expensive than traditional smartphones.
Earlier this month, Apple was granted a patent by the US Copyright and Trademark Office (USPTO) for "Electronic device with durable folding screen". According to the description, the screen has two parts, including a protective coating with a thin beveled fold and a flexible panel that can bend around the axis.
Describes how Apple thinned the fold of the screen in the patent.
Meanwhile, Revegnus1, an account that regularly provides accurate information about Apple products, said the company may announce a 20-inch folding iPad model in 2025 to gauge market reaction, before starting production. Folding iPhone. And Ming-Chi Kuo, a famous analyst at TF Securities, predicts that Apple will introduce the first folding screen MacBook. When closed, the product is equivalent to a 14–15-inch laptop. LG Display is the panel development partner, while Amphenol is responsible for the hinge. Kuo estimates that more than a million of these machines could be shipped by 2026.