Apple is experimenting with multiple foldable iPhone prototypes, but a foldable iPhone may not be coming in the near future because Apple still has concerns over foldable display technology and the market for foldable phones.
Dylandkt said in a thread that Apple is working on a future device, but that foldable display technology is not advanced enough and there are still too many compromises to deal with.
While other manufacturers are tinkering with products that are seemingly in the early stages of development, Apple wants to make sure that the design is not a regression from the current form factor of the iPhone. They want to see how technology progresses.
Apple is worried about whether foldable phones will be popular with consumers or if they will become obsolete in the future.
If there are issues with display longevity and quality because of the folding function, Apple wants to be sure that a foldable design isn't a regression from the current form factor of the iPhone. Dylandkt's comments suggest that Apple is taking a wait and see approach to foldable phone technology, but there are other rumors that suggest Apple could release a foldable phone as soon as 2023.
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone with a QHD+ display that will be released in 2023, according to an Apple analyst. In December, Ross Young said that Apple would not release a foldable iPhone until at the earliest, with a more likely target date being 2024. There are a few years of development left, according to a report in early 2021.
We've heard reports about various prototypes that Apple is testing, as well as foldable iPhone rumors. Development has not yet expanded beyond a display, despite the fact that foldable display samples have been provided to Apple.
One of Apple's foldable iPhone prototypes is said to feature two separate display panels connected with a hinge, a departure from single-display designs that have been introduced by other companies. A foldable iPhone with a similar design to the Z flip has been described.
The foldable technology has been embraced by other manufacturers. There are issues with the build quality of foldable displays and they have high price tags that far exceed the cost of standard phones.
