Apple considers the iPhone to be foldable; Minor changes planned for 2021 models

Photographer: Michael Short / Bloomberg

Apple Inc. started work early on an iPhone with a foldable screen, a potential rival for similar devices from Samsung Electronics Co. and others, although it only plans minor changes for this year’s iPhone lineup. .

The Cupertino, Calif.-Based company developed prototypes of foldable displays for internal testing, but did not consolidate plans to launch a foldable iPhone. Development work has not extended beyond a display, which means Apple does not yet have full prototypes of handsets in its labs, according to a person familiar with the work, who asked. not be identified to discuss private matters.

Like Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, the The reboot of Motorola Razr and other offerings from Chinese companies including Huawei Technologies Co., a foldable iPhone would allow Apple to create a device with a larger screen in a more compact package. Apple has internally discussed a number of foldable screen sizes, including one that unfolds to a size similar to the 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Current foldable phones have 6 and 8 inch screens unfolded.

Apple’s foldable screens in testing, like Samsung’s, have an almost invisible hinge with the electronics placed behind the screen, the person said. Other companies, including Microsoft Corp., have recently launched devices with visible hinges separating two separate panels. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.

It would be a radical departure for Apple. Its pioneering all-screen touchscreen smartphone is arguably the most successful consumer tech product in history, helping to make Apple the world’s most valuable company. However, a foldable iPhone will likely be years away or ultimately never show up. The company is currently focused on launching its flagship next-generation iPhones and iPads later this year.

Apple doesn’t plan any major changes for this year’s iPhone lineup given the improvements to the smartphone in 2020, including 5G and new designs, according to people familiar with the situation. At Apple, engineers consider the next iPhones to be another “S” version of the device, the nomenclature typically given to new iPhones with minor upgrades.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also complicated product development, with Apple hardware engineers only working at the company’s Silicon Valley offices a few days a week and in limited numbers. This meant transferring work to Apple engineers in China.

Last year, the pandemic delayed the release of the iPhone 12 by several weeks, but Apple was still able to include almost all of the planned features except for an accessory called “AirTags” to locate physical items such as backpacks and keys. The company now plans to launch this accessory this year and is planning several accessories, including a leather keychain. Samsung announced a similar gadget earlier this month.