Malcolm Owen
Samsung Display has undergone an organizational shuffle that should help the Apple screen supplier provide foldable displays for not just an iPhone, but a MacBook Pro too.
Apple has been rumored to be working on the so-called "iPhone Fold" for quite some time, a smartphone with a hinged display that can fold in half. In South Korea, it appears one of Apple's display partners is preparing itself for orders.
In a Monday report by The Elec, Samsung has performed an organizational reshuffle that chiefly affects a team that handles supplies for Apple. The shake-up of the team is allegedly to focus on improving its capabilities, specifically with Apple's foldable in mind.
The small and medium-sized display division handles smartphone OLED and foldable panels, including development for the flexible screens. This division is now being strengthened to work more on making foldable devices more mainstream.
Samsung Display, along with fellow supply chain member LG Display, is already working on panels for future foldable products from Apple. The report says this includes one measured at 20.25 inches.
While an iPhone with a flexible display is going to get the most attention from the public, it's not the only product that could arrive with similar technology.
Rumors from early 2023 claimed Apple had shifted plans for its first foldable MacBook Pro, with expectations of a release sometime in 2025. Rather than using the typical notebook-style keyboard and trackpad, it would instead be an all-screen device like an iPad, but with a touchscreen keyboard for input.
Having already released a fifth-generation foldable smartphone, Samsung is already quite experienced with the production of the component. The shuffling of teams within Samsung Display to bring foldable product and panel development within the same team may help Samsung retain its lead, or build upon it.m
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61 Comments
The HP Spectre Foldable is a really nice concept. I would like it if Apple refined the form factor and came up with something similar.
https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-spectre-foldable-17-cs0097nr
Personally, there's no way I'd buy an iPhone fold. Aside from the fear that the constant folding/unfolding of the screen will eventually cause issues, the phone would end up being about twice as thick as an iPhone is now, which isn't appealing to me. I do like the idea of a foldable MBP, where the lower portion is a keyboard when folded at 90 degrees and then a full screen tablet when laid flat, but its gotta run OSX and not iOS.
I see no need for this. It was a gimmick when motorola and samsung did it long ago.
Not what I’m looking for in a phone or laptop.
The main reason Apple doesn’t have folding screen products? The current technology sucks. I want a folding phone and a folding laptop screen, but not if that means distracting creases and early failures.
A sure sign the technology is ready for a good product is when Apple releases one. Just look at the pathetic current offerings in folded screens, who buys this overpriced garbage?