May 13, 2021
Experts predict that Apple’s first foldable iPhone will have an 8-inch flexible OLED display from Samsung and will go on sale in 2023.
Apple’s target sales are estimated to be between 15 and 20 million units, a huge increase from the 2.8 million foldable phones sold industry-wide by 2020, of which Samsung accounted for 80%.
Foldable devices are expected to blur product segmentation between smartphones, tablets, and laptops in the very near future. Apple, with its cross-product ecosystems and hardware design advantages, is likely to be the biggest winner as foldable devices slowly become a trend.
Estimated prices have not yet been named, although it will probably be beyond the $1,800 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 that is now in stores.
Apple will most likely shift to silver nanowire touch technology, which the tech company already uses on the HomePod, in its foldable devices and roll-out displays.
It will also be interesting to learn whether Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone will have a standard version of iOS, iPad OS, or a hybrid of the two to help Apple’s foldable handset take advantage of its multifunctional design.
The biggest challenge for Apple will be to find a way to protect the foldable iPhone screen from dents and wrinkles, and the tech giant must develop a hinge mechanism that maintains its strength and rigidity without taking up too much space.
For more information, read the original story in Gizmodo.
