Samsung Electronics Co. Smartphones Galaxy Z Flip are on display during 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. began work early on a foldable-screen iPhone, a potential rival to similar devices from Samsung Electronics Co. and others, though only planning minor changes to this year’s iPhone line.
The company from Cupertino, California, developed prototypes of foldable screens for internal testing, but did not consolidate its plans to launch a foldable iPhone. Development work has not extended beyond a display, which means that Apple does not yet have complete phone prototypes in its labs, according to a person familiar with the work, who asked not to be identified discussing private issues.
Like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Restarting the Motorola Razr and other offerings from Chinese companies, including Huawei Technologies Co., a foldable iPhone would allow Apple to make a device with a larger screen in a larger pocket package. Apple has internally discussed a number of foldable screen sizes, including one that runs at a size similar to the 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Current foldable phones have 6- to 8-inch screens.
Apple’s foldable screens under test, such as those from Samsung, have a largely invisible hinge, with electronics parked behind the screen, the person said. Other companies, including Microsoft Corp., recently launched devices with visible hinges that separate two separate panels. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
This would be a radical departure for Apple. Its pioneering full-screen touchscreen smartphone is without a doubt the most successful consumer technology product in history, helping to transform Apple into the world’s most valuable company. However, a foldable iPhone is probably years away or, in the end, can never be introduced. The company is currently focusing on launching the flagship next-generation iPhones and iPads later this year.
Apple does not plan major changes to the iPhone line this year, given the improvements to the smartphone in 2020, including 5G and new models, according to people familiar with the situation. Inside Apple, engineers consider the following iPhones another “S” version of the device, the nomenclature usually offered to new iPhones with minor upgrades.
The Covid-19 pandemic also complicated product development, with Apple hardware engineers working only at Silicon Valley offices a few days a week and in limited numbers. This meant unloading work to Apple engineers in China.
Last year, the pandemic delayed the launch of the iPhone 12 by a few weeks, but Apple managed to include almost all the 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 plans several accessories for it, including a leather keychain. Samsung announced a similar device earlier this month.
Although the overall changes will be minor, Apple is still testing a key update for 2021: an on-screen fingerprint reader. This would add a new method for users to unlock their iPhone, going beyond a password and facial recognition of Face ID. Apple began moving away from fingerprint sensors in 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X, but Touch ID remained a feature on Mac laptops and cheaper iPhones since then. Qualcomm Inc., which supplies Apple 5G modems, announced earlier this month a faster on-screen fingerprint sensor.
Read more: Apple plans to return Touch ID and the new cheap iPhone
The feature would be convenient in an environment where users wear masks, which are often incompatible with facial recognition. An on-screen fingerprint reader, which has also been featured on Android phones for several years, could also be faster than Face ID for some users. Apple will not remove its facial recognition scanner, although it is still useful for augmented reality and camera functions.
Apple also discussed eliminating the charging port for some iPhone models in favor of wireless charging. The company switched to a MagSafe magnetic charging system with the iPhone 12, in addition to removing the charging brick from the iPhone box last year. Bring that too charging technology back to your MacBook Pro.
For its line of tablets, Apple is planning a new iPad Pro that looks similar to the current model, but adds a MiniLED display and a much faster processor. A thinner and lighter entry-level iPad, which uses the same design as the iPad Air 2019, is also in the works.