Foldable phones are the next big thing in mobile, and Apple surely doesn’t want to stay away from the whole frenzy, so a foldable iPhone is now believed to be in the works behind the closed doors in Cupertino.
And while Apple obviously remains completely tight-lipped on everything related to the foldable iPhone, a patent that was published this week reveals one potential approach that the company could use should such a device get the go-ahead.
Called “Foldable cover and display for an electronic device,” the patent describes a method that allows Apple to build a device relying on cover sheets that can “facilitate localized bending and flexing without producing unacceptable levels of internal stress.”
Apple tight-lipped on everything
Apple says such cover sheets can be made from various materials, such as glass, sapphire, and ceramic.
“Electronic devices including a display layer and a cover layer including a foldable region are disclosed herein. The display layer and the cover layer are configured to be moved between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration by bending the cover layer along the foldable region,” the abstract section of the patent reads.
A patent is by no means the confirmation that a foldable iPhone is ready to enter production, but on the other hand, it’s a sign that Apple is already exploring such a device.
People familiar with the matter previously said that a foldable iPhone could be launched in 2021 or 2022 as Apple doesn’t want to be late to this already expanding industry. Samsung, which right now is the world’s number one phone manufacturer, is investing aggressively in foldable phones, so a similar iPhone model would allow Apple to remain competitive in this form factor battle.
This year’s iPhone generation will include successors to the existing models and possibly new sizes, with 5G support to be offered on at least one device.
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