Apple Is Working On Two Foldable iPhone Prototypes

There are rumors and leaks saying that Apple has been working on its own foldable phone and the iPhone maker even patented its own technology for this type of handsets. But now, it seems that Apple is moving along in developing a foldable iPhone.

Rumor has it that the firm has asked Foxconn to create two prototypes with foldable displays and shells.

On Sunday, Tom’s Guide reported, citing Taiwanese news outlet United Daily News, that the two prototypes of Apple’s foldable phone illustrate two different approaches. Accordingly, one of these designs is similar to that of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip, featuring a long, narrow display that can be folded in half but with a crease in the middle. The other approach is similar to the Surface Duo by Microsoft, sporting two displays held together with a hinge while the whole device looks like a book.

It remains unclear whether Apple is developing both these concepts or testing different ideas to finalize on a new kind of iPhone, according to Tom’s Guide.

Meanwhile, the US Patent and Trademark Office just published a patent on Thursday that Apple filed in April 2019. The patent application is titled “Folding Electronic Devices With Geared Hinges,” which illustrates a device allowing for inward and outward folding. Its abstract reads:

“An electronic device has a foldable display. First and second portions of an electronic device housing for the device may be joined using a hinge. A flexible display may overlap the first housing portion and the second housing portion and may bend along a bend axis as the first and second housing portions are rotated relative to each other using the hinge.”

This is not the first patent application Apple filed relating to foldable phones and it will not be the last. The tech giant has also filed an application for a self-healing screen and one that lets two displays work together as one when they are in the vicinity.

>>> Xiaomi Mi 11 Beats iPhone 12 Pro Max In WiFi Test