Are we about to see the first-ever foldable iPhone? Yes, according to a new report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The investment note, which was reported on by MacRumors, says the device could enter the market in 2023.
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The foldable iPhone could have a QHD+ flexible OLED 8-inch display and use a new “silver nanowire” touch technology that would allow it to support multiple folds, as well as ensure better durability than current foldable devices. Apple is already using this technology for the touch interface of the HomePod.
Ming-Chi Kuo explained: “Based on our latest industry survey, we forecast that Apple will likely launch a foldable iPhone with an 8-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display in 2023, with SDC as the exclusive display supplier and Samsung Foundry as the exclusive DDI foundry provider. Based on Apple’s requested capacity plan, we predict that the foldable iPhone shipments will reach 15-20 million units in 2023. We expect that the foldable iPhone will adopt TPK’s silver nanowire touch solution because of its several advantages over SDC’s Y-Octa technology.”
It is not surprising, of course, for Apple to be working on a foldable iPhone. The tech is expected to lead the next big wave of smartphones, and Apple will certainly not want to stay behind.
Should an Apple foldable device come to the market, it would most certainly impact the Apple lineup. The iPad Mini, which is just around 8-inches would probably be the first collateral victim. Of course, this is not the first time a report states that Apple is working on a foldable phone and so far, nothing really concrete has ever been revealed from the company itself.
Kuo also mentioned that production for the foldable iPhone has “not yet officially kicked off,” meaning that Apple is still in the development phase and there is absolutely no guarantee that it would ever come to market.