Apple Testing for the First Ever Foldable iPhone: Excited for iPhone 14 Maybe-Foldable?

Recent tweets from Apple “leaker” Dylan on Twitter about foldable iPhone prototypes (the account has been deleted if you are wondering) have divided the market about the new Apple designs. While some say that Apple was already too late in the foldable phone market, some argue that this kind of huge design change will harm Apple’s signature design that has already been going on for decades. While some companies are dealing with lawsuits (Read our other article: Amazon Class Action Lawsuit: What If Your Devices Are Actually Listening To You In Secret?), the company is going for a new design approach.

What is Apple’s outlook on the design?

In the Twitter thread, Dylan reported that the company was surely working on a prototype, however, he also said that “too many compromises still exist with foldable display technology.” He also mentioned that instead of directly jumping into the foldable display market, the company would wait and observe if the market was feasible or would “fall into obsolescence” in the future. He said, “Apple is intent on carefully observing the market and improving upon the mistakes of their competitors.” As their main design philosophy goes, they do not want to push products that are still “in beta.” As most of the readers inferred, they want to have a slick and perfected one before entering the market.

Dylandkt’s Tweets src: Twitter

Also, it is important to remember that this is not the first rumor about a foldable iPhone. Before, it was rumored by Ming-Chi Kuo that the company is developing a foldable ‌iPhone‌ with an 8-inch flexible OLED QHD+ display that’s set to be released in 2023. However, it is not known if these two are the same. Display analyst Ross Young also says that “2024 is more likely the target date” for the release.

However, there were always rumors about foldable display products since 2016. So, it does not exactly mean that they will be releasing the foldable phone exactly this year. As all fans know, Apple takes its time with perfecting its product according to its own design philosophy. In the end, all we get to do is wait and hear a thing or two in-between.

What are the concerns about an Apple foldable display?

Most people do not see a need for the foldable display if it were to go on an iPhone, however, people seem interested in an iPad mini design that can fold into a bigger display iPad Pro. Though these ideas or preferences are subject to change, people are commonly concerned about the price tag of an iPad with a foldable display. In addition to that, as the company was known for its slick and seamless designs, a folded thick iPhone in one’s pocket may not feel like their product for everyone. Moreover, there are still some issues that automatically come with a foldable design such as durability and build problems.

Some are also concerned with the design choices that are rumored to have been tested in the prototypes. The hinge design holding together two screens is not very well-liked by foldable phone customers. As people root for a single-display design like the Samsung versions, the clamshell design seems to be the popular choice amongst the customers. However, some are also hopeful that the company will find their own solution and will not release the phone until they are sure that they “get it right.”

Apple’s Slick Design src: Pexels

Despite the concerns, most fans are excited about the company’s entrance to the foldable display market and are waiting for the end result. In the end, it would be exciting to see what a tech giant like Apple could bring to the table with their own solutions to these issues.

Maybe, they will be the new all-in-one solution to the iPhone iPad distinction, or maybe they will be an alienated model disliked by the community. In the end, all I can say is “Good luck Apple.”