Apple files patent for foldable watch, aiming to operate independently of iPhone.
Apple Insider discovered a patent application for an Apple Watch that can fold open and close the screen, similar to a phone. The idea for a foldable watch is said to have started from a manufacturing defect in the early stages of the Apple Watch, where the screen would come off on three sides, leaving only one side attached, like a hinge.
Apple's application, titled "Wearable Electronic Device," describes a smartwatch with a screen that can be folded compactly and expanded when needed to increase the size.
Illustrations in the document show a hinge mechanism that allows the screen to slide or fold at the corners, along with a secondary display. Users could open the screen for video calls, gaming, or web browsing, and fold it back when they need a compact watch.
The filing was filed in 2023 and is considered a step forward in making the Apple Watch work completely independently of the iPhone. The document also mentions integrating two cameras into the Apple Watch, with an external camera for use when the watch is open or closed, and an internal camera for video calls.
This is considered one of Apple's attractive ideas. If the product is launched, it could become the most expensive Apple Watch model ever, similar to the rumor that the iPhone Fold foldable smartphone will cost more than the Mac Studio.