We’re just weeks away from Google I/O, the search giant’s annual program, and all signs point to the company launching its first foldable phone: the Pixel Fold. There are a number of rumors and leaks about the Pixel Fold, suggesting that it will be a small tablet-sized device that folds in half to the size of a phone. It could be similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Heck, the Pixel Fold could match the Z Fold’s $1,800 price tag.
If the Pixel Fold is announced at I/O, it will have Apple as the only major US phone maker without a foldable device. Motorola has the Razr, remember, and earlier this year it showed off the Motorola Rizr concept, a foldable screen phone that changes its height. And outside the US, Huawei and Xiaomi both have foldable phones.
All this leaves us with an obvious question: Where is Apple’s foldable iPhone?
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are seven months old, and despite rumors and speculation, the company hasn’t confirmed if a foldable iPhone is in development. This is particularly intriguing as Samsung continues to improve its foldable phone lineup, as with last year’s release of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Since we won’t know for sure if we’ll get an iPhone Fold or iPhone Flip until they’re announced, I’d like to break down what Apple might need to make it the first foldable based on everything we know about how the company designs, builds, and markets its devices.
Apple does not comment on future products
The first thing to keep in mind is that Apple doesn’t announce products until they’re ready. Well, there was a file AirPower wireless charging pad. But other than that, Apple wouldn’t tell us it’s working on a foldable iPhone or confirm the rumors.
Next, Apple usually positions products as a solution to a problem, highlighting quality and innovation.
The Galaxy Z Fold seems less of an answer to a problem and more of a simple “Look at this tech magic, what can we do with it?!” And the cool factor, as innovative as it is, comes at the expense of features we’ve come to expect from regular phones, including battery life, ergonomics, software experience and price. The Galaxy Z Flip solves the portability issue, but it comes with some of the same drawbacks as the Fold, especially in terms of battery life and camera quality.
To be fair, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 took a significant step forward by embracing its large main screen and adding support for Samsung’s S Pen. And it looks like the Z Fold 4’s improved Flex mode for apps may tip the balance, making the fold more useful than cool.
If Apple released a foldable iPhone, what problem would it solve? Could it be the iPhone Flip, replacing the iPhone 13 Mini by offering a large screen that’s still pocketable? Or will it be the iPhone Fold — more like an iPad Mini that folds in half, bringing its closed size closer to that of the iPhone 13 Pro Max? Or will we see a design that doesn’t exist yet? How about iPhone Roll, where there is a file The screen opens like an extended window shade? This is where the rumors start to enter the picture.
Why does Apple need a foldable iPhone? What problem does it solve?
iPhone Fold rumours
In January 2021, Mark Gurman wrote for Bloomberg that Apple “has started work early on a foldable iPhone, a potential competitor to similar devices from Samsung.”
And in May of that year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said, as reported by MacRumors, “Apple will likely release a foldable iPhone with an 8-inch QHD Plus flexible OLED display in 2023.” cf. his predictions, in Tweet this past AprilLet’s say it might be 2025 before there is a foldable screen device from Apple. It’s also worth noting that Kuo’s tweet was on April 1st, which means it was probably an April Fool’s joke.
Gurman and Kuo both have excellent track records when it comes to Apple rumors. So if these reports are accurate, we will see a foldable iPhone in 2025. It will be roughly the size of an iPad Mini and will fold in half. end of story. But wait.
How to make a foldable iPhone
Before Apple makes a foldable iPhone, it needs to know how To make a foldable iPhone. Research firm Omdia reports that in 2021, 11.5 million foldable phones will be shipped. Apple sells hundreds of millions of iPhones annually. So, if it’s a foldable iPhone, they have to be sure they can manufacture phones of the same quality and in high enough quantity to meet demand. Often when Apple introduces a hardware change—like 2014’s iPhone 6 Plus and its larger screen—these models are hard to find at launch because they sell out quickly. Sometimes they are given a later release date, as we saw with the launch of the iPhone 12 Mini and 12 Pro Max.
Then there is the physical complexity to consider. Foldable phones have many mechanical parts that can fail or wear out, such as the hinge components that keep out dust and the various layers behind the foldable screen. In fact, when journalists tested review units of the original Galaxy Fold, the device was hit with hinge and display failures. That was years ago, of course, and Samsung has since fixed these issues. But it shows what could happen with first-generation products.
If a foldable iPhone is in the works, Apple will likely innovate its design to reduce the parts and mechanisms involved, making it less likely that phones will break due to something happening. Cupertino has a proven track record in this field.
When Apple released the iPhone 7, it replaced the Home button with a Home button so there was one less mechanical part that could break. And if you’ve ever owned or used a MacBook, you know that Apple is at the top of its game when it comes to hinge design and reliability. Apple also sells AppleCare Plus, its repairs and support service—and includes a worldwide infrastructure to support it—that can help alleviate concerns about problems or accidental damage.
Apple’s iPad operating system has been separated from iOS, in part to accommodate larger screens like this second screen in the iPad OS 16 beta.
iOS and iPadOS must be renewed
Then there is the program. One UI, which is Samsung’s name for Android, has to be the most underrated aspect of the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold. These new designs should simultaneously do all the things we’ve come to expect from existing phones while creating new functionality that takes advantage of their foldable screens. They will also have to do all of these things flawlessly without any mistakes or hiccups. And if Google launches the Pixel Fold, I expect there will be better Android support for foldable devices.
For example, Galaxy phones’ Flex mode has been around for years. Essentially, when the fold is folded or flipped into an L-shape, like on a small laptop computer, the software moves an app to the top half of the screen with functionality on the bottom. Sounds great and full of possibilities, right?
Well, until this year that functionality was limited. That’s why it’s important that Samsung’s Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 let you turn the bottom half of their screens into touchpads while they’re in Flex mode. The company is now showing additional interest in the barn.
I’d like to see more software optimized for foldable phones. And I expect Apple to face the same challenges Samsung faced, especially when adapting iOS and iPadOS.
In recent years, iOS and iPadOS have drifted apart as Apple has created more iPad-specific features that wouldn’t make sense on an iPhone. A foldable iPhone, especially similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, requires a reunification of the two operating systems. Or Apple will have to develop a new software platform that can switch between tablet and phone mode.
It’s possible that Apple will develop a unique software feature (think iMessage or Portrait Mode) to help make its foldable phone stand out from what others do.
How much would you pay for a foldable iPhone?
Foldable phones aren’t cheap. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,800 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 starts at $1,000. And it is not surprising that the prices of Apple products are already quite high. So if the iPhone 14 Pro that doesn’t fold in half already costs $1,000, what’s the price of the device that doesn’t fold in half?
For the foldable iPhone to succeed, Apple will need to create design that solves problems, scale manufacturing without sacrificing quality and develop hardware along with software that makes the most of its foldable architecture. The price should also be excellent, but not too high.
So where is the foldable iPhone? Still in the oven.