Samsung Electronics Co. Galaxy Z Flip smartphones will be showcased at the Samsung Unpacked product launch event in San Francisco, California, USA on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
Photographer: Michael Short / Bloomberg
Photographer: Michael Short / Bloomberg
Apple Inc. started work on an iPhone with a folding screen early on, a potential rival to similar devices from Samsung Electronics Co. and others, although it only plans minor changes to this year’s iPhone line.
The Cupertino, California-based company has developed prototype foldable displays for internal testing, but has not yet made any plans to actually launch a foldable iPhone. The development work has gone no further than a display, meaning Apple doesn’t have full prototypes of the handset in its labs yet, according to a person familiar with the work, who asked not to be identified while discussing private matters.
Like Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, the Motorola Razr reboot and other offerings from Chinese companies, including Huawei Technologies Co., a foldable iPhone would allow Apple to make a larger screen device in a pocket size. Apple has talked about a number of foldable screen sizes internally, including one that unfolds to a similar size to the 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The current foldable phones have screens that are unfolded from 6 and 8 inches.
The foldable Apple screens being tested, like Samsung’s, have a largely invisible hinge with the electronics behind the screen, the person said. Other companies, including Microsoft Corp., have recently launched devices with exposed hinges that separate two different panels. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
This would be a radical departure for Apple. The groundbreaking, touchable full-screen smartphone is arguably the most successful consumer technology product in history, making Apple the world’s most valuable company. However, a foldable iPhone is likely to be years away or will never eventually be introduced. The company is currently focused on launching its next-generation flagship iPhones and iPads later this year.
Apple is not planning any major changes for this year’s iPhone line, given the improvements made to the smartphone in 2020, including 5G and new designs, according to people familiar with the situation. Within Apple, engineers consider the following iPhones to be another “S” version of the device, the naming convention typically given to new iPhones with minor upgrades.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also complicated product development, with Apple hardware engineers working at the company’s Silicon Valley offices only a few days a week and in limited numbers. That meant leaving the work to Apple’s engineers in China.
Last year, the pandemic delayed the release of the iPhone 12 by several weeks, but Apple was still able to include almost all of its intended features, except for an accessory called “AirTags” for locating physical items such as backpacks and keys. The company now plans to launch that accessory this year, and it plans multiple accessories for it, including a leather key fob. Samsung announced a similar gizmo earlier this month.
While the overall changes will be minor, Apple is still testing a major upgrade for 2021: an in-screen fingerprint reader. This would add a new method for users to unlock their iPhone that goes beyond passcode and facial recognition via Face ID. Apple began moving away from fingerprint sensors in 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X, but Touch ID has remained a feature on Mac laptops and cheaper iPhones ever since. Qualcomm Inc., which provides Apple with 5G modems, announced a faster in-screen fingerprint sensor earlier this month.
Read more: Apple plans return of Touch ID and new cheap iPhone
The feature would be useful in an environment where users wear masks, which are often incompatible with facial recognition. An in-screen fingerprint reader, which has also been used on Android phones for several years, can also be faster than Face ID for some users. Apple won’t be removing its facial recognition scanner, however, as it is still useful for augmented reality and camera functions.
Apple has also talked about removing the charging port for some iPhone models in favor of wireless charging. The company switched to a magnetic MagSafe charging system with the iPhone 12, in addition to removing the charging brick from the iPhone box last year. It also brings this charging technology back to the MacBook Pro.
For its tablet line, Apple plans a new iPad Pro that resembles the current model, but adds a MiniLED display and a much faster processor. A thinner and lighter entry-level iPad that uses the same design as the 2019 iPad Air is also in the works.