William Gallagher
A new supply chain report denies that Apple has abandoned folding devices, and instead it claims that the company is working on a foldable iPad or MacBook with a folding screen for 2025 or later.
There have been rumors of an iPhone Fold since at least when Samsung began releasing its foldable range. Yet recently there has been a spate of new, if contradictory, rumors saying Apple has two prototypes, might make a folding iPad instead, or has abandoned the whole idea.
Now Digitimes claims to have information from the supply chain. According to the report, various elements of a design are coming together, and the device will not be an iPhone.
It's not clear what stage the design is at, but the implication is that it's nearing completion. The report says that planning is underway for the mass production of the device.
Similarly, reporting that this device will not be an iPhone, says that it will be an iPad or a MacBook Pro. This doesn't necessarily mean that the rumor of two iPhone fold prototypes is false, but Digitimes does say that work has not been abandoned or disbanded.
Digitimes has a strong reputation for its supply chain sources — but a considerably poorer one for the conclusions it draws about Apple's plans or schedules. In this case, it's saying a folding device will not appear before 2025 at the earliest.
That fits with a December 2023 report which in part also said that Samsung had reorganized a business group to better service Apple's demands for foldable screens.
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
Christine McKee
32 Comments
Why? Waste of time in light of the Apple Vision....Continuing research on folding/bending screens yes actually releasing a product no.
Funny how everyone wants to pin this to an existing product line. I think it’s equally likely Apple has something new and more innovative in mind. What? I have no idea. That’s why it would be innovative.
Apple of the 2000s and 2010s I would say no chance would they chase this worthless fad all the way to a production product. But the current Apple under this leadership? The Apple that thinks Vision Pro is shippable product. Anything is possible.
I feel like this movement towards foldable devices is something that Steve Jobs would have canned early.
I agree with @danox
Why muddy the focus? iPhone's for pocketable devices, iPads for portable iOS devices, Macbooks for portable Mac OS based product and Vision for next generation computing.
Remember if it doesn't make sense to the point where the path to success doesn't seem clear and reasonable them Apple is likely not doing it.
Hey ...according to the Press that Apple Car is due next year right?
An foldable ipad makes more sense because their ipad sales are tanking.
They need a growth.
A fordable iPhone would make Apple be more dependent on iPhones.