It's an open secret that the Cupertino-based iPhone maker is diligently working on its very first folding device. Since its main South Korean competitor Samsung is one of the leaders in this new market segment thanks to its continuously improving Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold lineup, Apple now appears to be conducting more tests regarding its highly-anticipated foldable.
According to a recent tweet by the popular leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is specifically working on a foldable device with a rather large 9-inch screen, which would be significantly bigger than Samsung's comparable Fold smartphones. Kuo suggests that Apple may envision a folding iPhone-iPad hybrid, whose OLED display could feature a pixel density that falls right between the PPI found on its current smartphones and tablets. The according OLED panel may be developed in collaboration with the long-time supplier LG.
Kuo further notes that Apple currently seems to prioritize the development of a medium-sized foldable, which appears plausible in consideration of the purported 9-inch display found in the prototype or test device. Subsequently, the tech behemoth could release an even larger device in this new category, while a smaller folding iPhone supposedly only comes third on Apple's to-do list. However, the leaker also confirms that the release of Apple first product in the foldable segment is still years away as it won't launch before 2025.
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I expected Apple to launch a foldable iPhone as soon as 2024 in my reports last year, but now it's clear this prediction needs to be revised. I predict Apple may launch its first foldable product in 2025 at the earliest, which may be a foldable iPad or a hybrid of iPad & iPhone. https://t.co/HGIDPFvdar
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) April 1, 2022