Apple is rumoured to be working on a foldable iPhone. As per rumours, the foldable iPhone could come with an outward folding display. Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now revealed that the company will launch a foldable iPhone in 2023. The Apple foldable smartphone will have an 8-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display. The report by MacRumors, citing Kuo’s investor note, states that Samsung Display will be the official supplier. Apple is expected to ship 15-20 million units of the foldable iPhone in 2023. Let’s take a look at the upcoming foldable iPhone specifications and other details tipped ahead of its launch.
A foldable iPhone is coming in 2023 with an 8-inch QHD+ OLED display
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone. This foldable Apple iPhone will have an 8-inch QHD+ display and is slated to launch in 2023.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will ship 15-20 million units of the folding iPhone. The report by MacRumors, citing Kuo’s investor note, states that Samsung Display will be the official display supplier.
We are still a couple of years away from the official launch of the rumoured foldable Apple product. Kuo predicts that foldable smartphones will become a “must-have” and will boost the next “super replacement cycle” for high-end models.
“At present, the product position of foldable smartphones is mainly to integrate the smartphone and tablet. But we believe that the foldable smartphone is only one of the applications of the foldable design. We predict that foldable devices will blur the product segmentations between smartphones, tablets, and laptops in the future. With its cross-product ecosystems and hardware design advantages, Apple will be the biggest winner in the new foldable device trend,” Kuo said.
The Apple foldable phone is also expected to adopt TPK’s silver nanowire touch solution. Kuo believes that it will create a “long-term competitive advantage” for Apple as the display tech will be needed in future foldable devices that support more than a single fold. The silver nanowire touch solution is said to be superior to Samsung Display’s Y-Octa tech.
Apple foldable iPhone patent
Earlier this year, Apple was granted a patent for a foldable smartphone design. The patent revealed that Apple is working on a foldable phone with an outward folding display, much like Huawei Mate X.
Underneath this glass panel, Apple seemingly aims to use touch sensors to deploy a variety of functions. These may include touch-sensitive volume control and interface navigation, and maybe even the return of Touch ID with a built-in biometric sensor.
The patent also states that the sidewalls may be both flat or curved. It would depend on what Apple finds as a more durable design decision in due time. The foldable phone could come with Apple Pencil support.
Apple is also rumoured to launch a clamshell folding iPhone in 2022. Tipster Jon Prosser had claimed that the clamshell iPhone will launch in September 2022 or maybe 2023. However, Prosser’s record in the recent past has been a hit or a miss. We suggest taking this leak with a pinch of salt.
