Apple’s folding iPhone may actually be happening

By Patrick Hearn Published November 27, 2024

iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium. — Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

The idea of a folding iPhone has circulated the web for quite a while now, with many estimates placing its arrival in 2026. Apple has filed numerous patents, all of which point toward the idea of a folding device, but there hasn’t been anything that pointed toward it being an in-development project rather than just an exploratory probe. Now, new information from a trusted source suggests that could be about to change.

Apple has recently entered the “formal development process with display manufacturers,” according to Yeux1122. The tipster says their source for this information is an unspecified supply chain source. The original post is in Korean, so all our information comes via Google Translate.

Recommended Videos

Jukanlosreve, another known leaker, broke the news to the English-language audience with a post on X.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Apple’s New Foldable Smartphone Enters Formal Development Process

According to yeux1122, Apple has recently entered the official development process for foldable smartphones in collaboration with display manufacturers.

In response, yeux1122 speculates that the timeline for form…

— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) November 27, 2024

So, what does this mean for the iPhone? New technology takes time to develop, but Yeux1122’s post (assuming it plays out) indicates that Apple has likely reached an agreement with manufacturers to begin producing the folding displays it would need to produce this new iPhone.

Let’s say the news is accurate and the timeline is correct. It’s unlikely that Apple would have the folding version of the iPhone ready to go in time for a 2025 release, so this backs up the initial claims that 2026 will be the year of the folding iPhone.

As for exactly what form this phone might take, your guess is as good as ours. Some have dubbed it the iPhone Flip, but there’s a chance it might more closely resemble the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.

Fans have wanted a folding iPhone for years. In 2022, fans crafted their own theoretical version of the device that looked pretty awesome.

Yeux1122 said this development could mean a sped-up timeline for Samsung. If Apple releases or begins to hint at a foldable iPhone, Samsung might launch the new FE lineup and other devices sooner than expected.

Topics

Mobile Writer

Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…

Mobile

Apple insider leaks future plans for a significant iPhone spec change

iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max close up of the cameras

Apple has long followed a strategy of consolidating the hardware supply chain within its own circle. Shifting away from Intel to in-house M-series processors was one of the biggest bets in recent memory. Now, the company is eyeing the same strategy for a critical part that allows iPhones to, well, act like phones.

According to Apple tipster Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple will finally put its own cellular modem inside iPhones and iPads starting next year. The plans will be executed over three years, spanning three generations of modems, as part of a plan to end Apple’s reliance on Qualcomm for the part.

Mobile

6 excellent iPhone apps that I wish were available on Android

Four iPhone exclusive apps and associated widgets on an iPhone 16 Pro homescreen

For the past 15 years, the way we think about and use technology has been completely reshaped. What was once a hardware-first industry quickly became a software-first one, and this radical evolution of technology can be traced back to one pivotal moment. In 2009, Apple debuted the iPhone 3G and the first App Store. This launch ushered in a new era: the smartphone, complete with apps. It also debuted one of the best commercials, complete with a catchphrase that is sometimes still used today: There’s an app for that.

For many years, the iPhone had a plethora of apps that were not available on Android. While most of these are now available cross-platform, not every developer has embraced the billions of potential customers who don’t have an iPhone. Even now, some apps launch first on iOS and can take months or years to launch on Android.

Mobile

The iPhone 18 may get a big redesign you won’t be able to see

The back of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

The design of the iPhone can only be described as iconic. That rectangular shape has been a major influence on phone aesthetics and design since the first iPhone came onto the market back in 2007, and that isn't likely to change. The internal design of the iPhone might radically shift, however. Apple is supposedly planning to change how the iPhone hardware is designed to accommodate better AI performance.

Essentially, Apple wants to use discrete memory rather than integrated memory. Those are technical terms that basically mean separate and together. On the internal system on a chip (SoC), any memory that is stacked on top is considered integrated memory. Discrete memory would be RAM that is packaged separately from the SoC. If reports are correct, Apple will begin using discrete memory in 2026, and the shift would result in faster memory and better AI performance, according to The Elec.