Mike Peterson
Apple has reportedly tapped LG Display to aid in the development of a foldable screen for a future iPhone, according to a new report.
Sources within Apple's supply chain told DigiTimes that LG is helping with development of a folding display, though it isn't clear if the company will supply the panels once production has started.
This is far from the first time that LG was said to be working on a foldable display for Apple. The company picked up Apple and other technology giants as the first customers for the technology in 2016. A report a year later indicated that LG had a "task force" working on a flexible OLED display for an iPhone model.
Along with LG, Apple is also said to be sourcing prototype displays from Samsung for a so-called "iPhone Fold" device. Currently, Apple sources display panels from both LG Display and Samsung Display, so it's possible that the Cupertino company is working with both suppliers and hasn't excluded one for the other.
A report in January indicated that Apple was starting early development work on a folding iPhone. At the time, the level of development was said to not have progressed beyond the screen.
The company's work on folding device technology, however, is evident in the numerous patents and patent applications that have been filed over the past few years.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
24 Comments
If these folding phones ever happen, what will case makers do? Also, seems like a folding phone and\or case could be a dust magnet?
Apple “tiles” are more interesting than folding phones and apple tiles are 😴
Let's see a show of hands...who would like a folding phone...anyone...anyone...Buller...Buller...crickets.
“Folding” is misleading. I think the iPhone Fold can be a midrange category replacing the iPad mini. And being a device that folds from an iPhone Max into an iPad mini size.