Apple Partners Quietly Building Foldable iPhone Prototypes, Report Says

KEY POINTS

Apple is already working on a foldable iPhone, a report says
Its partner companies are reportedly already testing out a few key components
The device, however, is not expected to be released before 2022

Apple is already working on its first foldable iPhone and is preparing it for release as soon as possible, a report says.

Cupertino tech giant Apple is already testing a few components that will be used for its upcoming foldable iPhone, Chinese news outlet Economic Daily reported, citing unnamed sources from the supply chain.

Apple partners Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, and Nippon Nippon are already working on flexible displays and hinges that will be used for the next-gen device, per the report.

The company is said to be considering choosing between OLED and micro-LED technology for the device display. The report said this is one of the first key decisions the iPhone maker needs to make because it will determine the assembly methods that will be used for the device, which is slated to be out in the market by September 2022.

Sources in the supply chain also told Economic Daily that Apple is currently testing hinges that will be used for the foldable iPhone. They said that while Samsung will be the one supplying the company with flexible display panels for the device, the hinge will be sourced from several suppliers.

The Cupertino company is extensively testing the hinge that might be used for the device, according to the outlet.

While other hinged devices such as laptops, for example, are subjected to folding tests that open and close the lid for 20,000, 30,000 and sometimes 50,000 times, the hinges used in foldable mobile phones need to be tested to last up to or more than 100,000 folds and unfolds.

Apple needs to make sure that the foldable iPhone’s hinge can withstand a lot of folding and unfolding. This is because it plays an important role in the device’s functionality and flexibility, the report added.

That said, not much is known about the upcoming device. Previous patents revealed that it will feature new technologies that will usher in a different kind of iPhone experience to users.

Perhaps, the future foldable iPhone might become the first foldable device to gain mainstream success. Apple does have a lot of fans after all.