The Folding iPhone

Samsung recently dropped their latest lineup of foldable, continuing to corner the market with the easiest-to-recommend foldable. Now there have been rumors about a folding iPhone. What would that look like? When might this come out? Why does Apple want to do this? Let’s dive in.

Earlier this July, Apple was granted a patent titled: “Electronic Devices With Durable Folding Displays”.  This patent covered the clamshell design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, which folds like the classic folding phones from back in the day. The patent isn’t clear what size this phone could be, but rumor has it that the phone could have a display ranging from 7.5 to 9 inches in length. It is possible that Apple has been working to eliminate the crease of a folding phone altogether, which would be a first.

Now, when could something like this hit the market? The folding iPhone (or the V68, which is how it is referred to as within Apple) could come out in 2026, but market analysts propose that it may drop later due to Apple trying to perfect the crease.

And lastly, why would Apple do this? It seems rather unnecessary, given their prowess as such a brand and phone manufacturer. Personally, I think Apple has decided that they want to be on the front lines. Not the very front, though. They let other brands been the bleeding edge, such as Samsung with the original Galaxy Z Folds and Z Flips and Meta with the Oculus 1. But with Apple showing they are able to produce a good product in the Vision Pro relatively quickly, I think they are willing to take bigger risks and are okay to work out some kinks after the Gen 1 product has launched. But why this type of folding phone. Honestly, it’s anyone’s guess. I would think that an ultra thin iPad that can fold into a phone would be a huge deal, but they seem to be opting for the clamshell design. The great thing about this design is that it works way better for female clothing. The fashion industry has decided that men get an abundance of pockets, and women usually are stuck with carrying a bag or purse everywhere. But a small folding phone could work a lot better. It could fit into the insanely small pockets they are given, which would be a a game changer and could get some  of the female market to switch from their current phones, especially in America, where they already have by far the most phones. Lastly, its kind of obvious that Apple doesn’t want their competitors, like Samsung, Motorola, and Google, to be able to make sales without someone actively not choosing Apple.