Apple is developing its first ever foldable iPhone, with insiders reporting that the unusual new device is currently on its way to launch. in less than two years.
Rumors have been circulating for some time that the tech giant has plans for a clamshell-style smartphone, with numerous patents previously published confirming all speculation.
But a new report reveals that two prototypes of different sizes, codenamed “V68,” are officially in the works, with suppliers in Asia in talks to make parts for the devices.
Previous reports from industry watchers and Apple leakers earlier this year also suggested that this long-awaited competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip even has a working name: the iPhone Flip.
While an Apple spokesperson declined to comment, the new report attributes the information to “two individuals with direct knowledge of the matter.”
Insiders say that Apple’s long-awaited competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z, Motorola’s Razr Plus and Google’s Pixel Fold now has a working name: the iPhone Flip. Above, a render from YouTuber ConceptsiPhone, who has been experimenting with foldable iPhone designs for years
An Apple patent, titled ‘Flexible Display Devices’, filed on October 12, 2018, showed what appears to be a foldable phone (above). A new report now claims that two different sized prototypes are in the works, codenamed ‘V68’
In one form factor, the screen is displayed in a triangular position, presumably allowing people sitting on either side of the screen to view the same content simultaneously
These sources told a technology news site The information that it typically takes 24 months for a new iPhone model to go from initial production phase to completion.
But as they noted on the website, development of a highly experimental concept like this promised clam-shell foldable iPhone could take longer than normal, even though it could release in 2026 — just after that 24-month period.
According to current and former sources at Apple, the company’s industrial design team wants the iPhone Flip to be as thin as possible — half the thickness of current iPhones.
However, they say limitations related to the smaller battery size and the touchscreen’s internal components have undermined these grand ambitions for years.
However, the latest news from the technology news site suggests that these issues may finally be resolved.
Apple is planning to release a significantly thinner iPhone next year, The Information reported Tuesday. The internal codename for the device is “D23.”
Reports this year indicate that Apple has already reached out to at least one component manufacturer in Asia to source parts for two sizes of the ‘iPhone Flip’, though there are no plans to mass produce the device in 2024 or 2025. Above, another recent render from ConceptsiPhone
One of the challenges the iPhone Flip may still face is preventing a stubborn crease from forming in the center of the phone’s display after repeated use.
Apple has been secretly attempting to design a foldable phone with an outward-facing display that is sturdy enough for everyday use.
A former Apple employee told the site that Apple hardware engineers had discovered that prototypes with outward-facing displays were “more susceptible to breakage when dropped.”
These hurdles and revised economics could keep the iPhone Flip in the background, they noted.
“Apple has a history of canceling projects late in development, and there’s no guarantee the company will actually release the foldable iPhone,” The Information reported.
Sources also suggested that Apple views a foldable iPad as a simpler technical achievement and a less risky first entry into the market. Above, another recent render from ConceptsiPhone
A new Apple patent, published in May, suggests the company still hopes to realize its dreams of a unique, quintessentially Apple breakthrough in foldable mobile technology: a touchscreen outside the fold (pictured above).
However, other sources claim that Apple sees a foldable iPad as a simpler technical feat and a less risky market proposition given the iPhone’s declining sales.
The company sees the “iPad Flip” as a novelty that will allow it to gauge customer interest in its new designs before going head-to-head with multiple flip-phone competitors on its own turf.
“Apple will not release the product until they are sure, because they cannot afford to lose customers because of an average device,” he said. Kaushik Bosean executive at Green Tiger Mobility who keeps a close eye on the foldable market.
“Manufacturers are uncertain about the longevity of foldable displays,” Bose noted in public comments on Quora.
“Nobody knows if these devices will actually last more than 1-2 years,” the director said, “as streaks are already appearing on some of the older foldable devices (1st generation).”
In the early days of Apple’s flip phone rumors, Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight, voiced the general consensus that there was “really no need” for Apple to enter the foldable phone market.
‘You can be sure the company has had flexible display technology in its labs for a decade,’ Wood told MailOnline.
“But right now there’s no commercial need for Apple to take the risk of entering a niche market, now that the iPhone is so incredibly successful.”