Apple's Foldable iPhone Prototype Allegedly Features Separate Display Panels Connected by Hinge

Apple is working on a foldable iPhone prototype that features two separate display panels that are connected by a hinge rather than a single display like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, according to leaker Jon Prosser who shared the info in a tweet and a YouTube interview shared by Jon Rettinger.

Hinged iPhone 2020 Feature

A mockup of an ‌iPhone‌ that has two displays and a hinge

Prosser says that the foldable ‌iPhone‌ has rounded, stainless steel edges like the current ‌iPhone‌ 11 and no notch, but a "tiny forehead" on the outer display for Face ID.


Though the ‌iPhone‌ features two separate displays connected by a hinge, Prosser claims that the panels look "fairly continuous and seamless."

galaxy fold kv device

Samsung's Galaxy Fold

Samsung's foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, is designed as a single display with a fold in the middle that allows it to open and close. Prosser believes that Apple's version that's in the works looks more similar to Microsoft's Surface Neo and Surface Duo, both of which are foldable dual display devices that feature two displays connected with a hinge.

microsoftsurfaceneoduo

Microsoft's Surface Neo and Duo

There's no word on when Apple might develop a foldable ‌iPhone‌, but there have been rumors about work on such a device dating back to 2016, as well as a number of patents. A March 2020 patent described a device that featured two separate displays that could be brought together to create a single bendable device with a hinge.

apple patent bendable device separate displays
It's not clear if the foldable ‌iPhone‌ will ever move out of a prototyping stage, but it doesn't look like a foldable device is launching in the near future. More information on Apple's alleged work on a foldable ‌iPhone‌ can be found in our guide.

Top Rated Comments

JPack Avatar
45 months ago
For people that don't understand folding phones, the idea is pretty simple.

You get a bigger screen in a smaller form factor. It's extremely inefficient to scale up the body of an iPhone just to match the display size.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
45 months ago

For people that don't understand folding phones, the idea is pretty simple.

You get a bigger screen in a smaller form factor. It's extremely inefficient to scale up the body of an iPhone just to match the display size.
With a thicker, heavier, less durable device.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
moabal Avatar
45 months ago
What would even be the point of this? I have thought long and hard about these foldable phones/tablets and I do not see how it helps anyone other than a niche group of people.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsplusmacs Avatar
45 months ago
You know, I visualized what this would be like in my mind just now, and HAVING to unfold my phone each time, man this does not conform to the way I use my phone, I will pass and just keep using a BIG phone like the iphone 12 pro max and my ipad pro for bigger work that I need to get done.

And Glasses. give me my apple glasses.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dazz87 Avatar
45 months ago
Foldable phone? Why?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kemal Avatar
45 months ago
Because Apple need a phone in the $3000 range.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

apple card 1

Apple Ending Apple Card Partnership With Goldman Sachs

Tuesday November 28, 2023 3:09 pm PST by
Apple is ending its credit card partnership with Goldman Sachs, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple plans to stop working with Goldman Sachs in the next 12 to 15 months, and it is not yet clear if Apple has established a new partnership for the Apple Card. Apple and Goldman Sachs will dissolve their entire consumer partnership, including the Apple Card and the Apple Savings account....
ios 17 namedrop

Police Departments and News Sites Spreading Misinformation About How iOS 17 NameDrop Feature Works

Monday November 27, 2023 5:11 pm PST by
Apple with iOS 17.1 and watchOS 10.1 introduced a new NameDrop feature that is designed to allow users to place Apple devices near one another to quickly exchange contact information. Sharing contact information is done with explicit user permission, but some news organizations and police departments have been spreading misinformation about how functions. As noted by The Washington Post,...
Apple Logo

Apple Discontinued These 5 Products This Year

Monday November 27, 2023 7:03 am PST by
As the end of 2023 nears, now is a good opportunity to look back at some of the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Apple products discontinued in 2023 include the iPhone 13 mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro, MagSafe Battery Pack, MagSafe Duo Charger, and leather accessories. Also check out our lists of Apple products discontinued in 2022 and 2021. iPhone Mini ...
iOS 17

iOS 17.1.2 Update for iPhone Likely to Be Released This Week

Monday November 27, 2023 8:24 am PST by
Apple will likely release iOS 17.1.2 this week, based on mounting evidence of the software in our website's analytics logs in recent days. As a minor update, iOS 17.1.2 should be focused on bug fixes, but it's unclear exactly which issues might be addressed. Some users have continued to experience Wi-Fi issues on iOS 17.1.1, so perhaps iOS 17.1.2 will include the same fix for Wi-Fi...
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.2 Beta 4

Tuesday November 28, 2023 12:18 pm PST by
Apple is wrapping up development on iOS 17.2, with the update expected to come out in December. While we're getting to the end of the beta testing period, Apple is still tweaking features and adding new functionality. We've rounded up everything new in the fourth beta of iOS 17.2. Default Notification Sound Under Sounds & Haptics, there's a new "Default Alerts" section that allows you to ...
All New CarPlay Five New Features Article 2

What to Expect From All-New CarPlay, Still Listed as Coming 'Late 2023'

Tuesday November 28, 2023 7:44 am PST by
At WWDC in June 2022, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, increased personalization, and more. Apple's website still says the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience will be announced in "late 2023," but it has not shared...
Google Drive

Some Google Drive Users' Files Have Mysteriously Vanished

Tuesday November 28, 2023 3:55 am PST by
Google Drive users have been warned not to disconnect their account within the Google Drive for desktop app, after a spate of reports of files going missing from the cloud service. Alarm bells began ringing last week on Google's community support site when some users reported files mysteriously disappearing from Google Drive, with some posters claiming six or more months of data had...