14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung is going all-in on foldables, with the company working around the clock on making this form factor more accessible to potential customers out there.
And while the South Korean firm is believed to be working on a cheaper foldable that would help increase the market share of this form factor, many are keeping an eye on Apple to see how the company responds to this new trend.
People familiar with the matter previously said that Apple was indeed working on a foldable iPhone, and some said this device was projected to go live in 2023.
But Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says this is unlikely to happen, as the foldable iPhone won’t be here earlier than 2025. In other words, you’d better not hold your breath for this device, as Apple clearly isn’t in a rush to launch an iPhone with this form factor.
Mysterious foldable currently in the works
In the meantime, it looks like Apple is already working on another 9-inch foldable device, but its purpose appears to be testing various technology and not actually preview a final product.
“I think the priority order of sizes of Apple foldable product development is medium, large, & small. Apple is actively testing foldable OLED about 9" (PPI between iPhone & iPad, adoption of TDDI). The test is to verify key technologies and may not be the final product spec,” Kuo explains
“I expected Apple to launch a foldable iPhone as soon as 2024 in my reports last year, but now it's clear this prediction needs to be revised. I predict Apple may launch its first foldable product in 2025 at the earliest, which may be a foldable iPad or a hybrid of iPad & iPhone.”
As usual, Apple has remained completely tight-lipped on everything related to its long-term plans, so take this report with a healthy pinch of salt for now.