Foldable iPhones: New patent reveals Apple is working on a clamshell-design foldable phone

The world of smartphones is seeing a surge in foldable displays, with many manufacturers offering various foldable phone options. Apple, however, has been noticeably absent from this trend. But it seems things might be changing.

While Apple hasn't released a foldable device yet, rumors abound about the tech giant planning a big entrance with larger foldables, including a possible 20-inch foldable MacBook. There's a lot of speculation about when Apple's first foldable will arrive, but one thing seems certain: their first foldable device will be a 2-in-1 laptop/tablet in 2025. This shift in focus suggests Apple is prioritizing larger foldables for now.

However, there's still hope for a foldable iPhone! A recently published patent, filed last year, hints at Apple's development of a clamshell-style foldable phone. This patent (US 20240147644 A1) showcases an innovative hinge design for a compact, foldable phone, suggesting Apple might be working on both larger foldables and a foldable iPhone.

Imagine a device that bends in half and can be a phone, a computer, or whatever you need it to be on the go. That's the idea behind Apple's foldable device patent.

Their design ditches the usual folding methods for something more complex, like a chain of tiny interlocking links. This fancy hinge might be bulkier, but Apple says it'll keep the inner screen super protected.

However, this bulk might make it better for a foldable iPad than a slim iPhone. Bigger devices like tablets are easier to design for folding in this way, since they don't necessarily need to be super dustproof and waterproof like iPhones. For iPhones, keeping dust and water out is a big deal, and current foldable phones like Samsung's Fold 5 don't quite manage that same level of protection.

While Apple might be a little late to the foldable party, this patent shows they're thinking hard about how to make hinges work even better. Who knows, maybe their design will be a game-changer for foldable phones! Everyone's definitely curious to see what Apple comes up with in this new space.