Apple has not given up on the 'dream' of a folding screen iPhone

Up to now, Apple has not made any official statement about the foldable iPhone. In March, famous analyst Ming Chi Kuo confirmed that "Apple" is developing a 20.3-inch MacBook with a new screen. The reason is because Apple is concerned about the durability of the foldable iPhone.

iPhone Flip concept photo.

However, according to Patently Apple, "Battened Apple" filed a new patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) last October. This patent was published by USTPO and focuses on the iPhone Flip's hinge.

With the title: Hinges for Folding Devices, Apple affirms:

"This is a device with a foldable screen, whose shell parts are joined together by hinges. The flexible screen can overlap the hinge. The foldable screen device can be moved between positions folds and opens with hinges."

The illustrations show that this is a clamshell-style folding phone similar to the Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola Razr. The hinge can fold both inward and outward.

Image from Apple's new folding screen iPhone patent.

The patent application mentions parts such as: friction clamp and synchronous gear plate.

Of course, filing a patent doesn't mean Apple is developing an iPhone Flip. It files many patent applications each year, and only a small percentage of them become products or parts of products.

Apple may be considering creating a clamshell-style folding iPhone before creating a book-style folding screen smartphone (like the Galaxy Z Fold). The reason is that sales data shows that the Galaxy Z Flip is the "best-selling" folding screen phone in the past three years, "beating" the Galaxy Z Fold models.

Jessica Tanner

Update 07 May 2024