What you should know
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- Apple has been silent about a foldable iPhone but has shown interest in a foldable MacBook, as indicated by rumors and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s statements.
- A patent application filed by Apple for a hinge mechanism for a foldable device, potentially an iPhone Flip, has been published, suggesting Apple’s ongoing exploration of foldable technology.
- The patent illustrations depict a clamshell design similar to existing foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola Razr, with a focus on a hinge that allows folding around a vertical axis.
- Despite the patent application, there’s no confirmation that Apple will release a foldable iPhone, as it frequently files patents that don’t always result in new products. However, the interest in clamshell foldable designs is noted, possibly influenced by the market success of similar devices.
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Full Story
Ah, the elusive foldable iPhone. Apple’s been as quiet as a mouse about it. Not a peep, really. But oh, the rumors – they’re swirling! There’s chatter about a humongous 20.3-inch foldable MacBook. Can you imagine? And guess who’s behind these whispers? None other than Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International. He’s pretty much the Sherlock Holmes of tech leaks. Said back in March that Apple’s cooking something up.
Now, Apple’s kinda on the fence about a foldable iPhone. Durability issues, they say. But a foldable MacBook? Seems they’re not sweating it as much. Yet, here’s where it gets juicy. Patently Apple stumbled upon a patent application Apple filed last October. And guess what? It’s all about the hinge for an iPhone Flip. “Hinges for Folding Devices,” they call it. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? A hinge that lets the device fold and unfold. Revolutionary, I know.
And then there are these illustrations in the patent application. They’re showing off a clamshell phone. You know, folds up like a taco but along a vertical axis. Reminds you of the Galaxy Z Flip or those old-school Motorola Razrs. The hinge? It’s got moves – inward and outward. Though, let’s be real, inward folding is what clamshells are all about. But hey, there’s a shoutout to some outliers like the Honor V Purse. Fancy, right?
The nitty-gritty of the patent talks about friction clips, synchronization gear plates… tech stuff. But here’s the kicker: just because Apple filed this patent, doesn’t mean we’re getting an iPhone Flip anytime soon. They’re always filing patents. It’s like their hobby or something. Most don’t see the light of day. But, and it’s a big but, if Apple does jump on the foldable bandwagon, they might go for the clamshell design first. Why? Because apparently, everyone’s loving the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip. It’s been outselling its book-style sibling for the past three years. Go figure.
