Apple Testing Multiple Foldable iPhone Prototypes, But Has Concerns Over Display Technology and Market

Apple is experimenting with multiple foldable iPhone prototypes, according to leaker Dylandkt, but a foldable ‌iPhone‌ may not be coming in the near future because Apple still has concerns over foldable display technology and the market for foldable smartphones.

Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Blue
In a tweet thread, ‌Dylandkt‌ said that Apple is working on a possible future device, but that foldable display technology is not advanced enough and there are still too many "compromises" to deal with.


Apple is also reportedly concerned about whether foldable smartphones will continue to be popular with consumers or will become obsolete in the coming years.

Before releasing a foldable ‌iPhone‌, Apple wants to be sure that a foldable design isn't a "regression from the current form factor of the ‌iPhone‌," which could indeed happen if there are issues with display longevity and quality because of the folding functionality. ‌Dylandkt‌'s comments suggest that Apple is continuing to take a wait and see approach to foldable smartphone technology, but some other rumors have indicated that Apple could release a foldable ‌iPhone‌ as soon as 2023.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in May 2021 that Apple is developing a foldable ‌iPhone‌ with an 8-inch flexible OLED QHD+ display that's set to be released in 2023. Display analyst Ross Young in December said that Apple would not release a foldable ‌iPhone‌ until 2023 "at the earliest," with 2024 being a more likely target date. Bloomberg in early 2021 said that Apple had started "early work" on an ‌iPhone‌ with a foldable display, indicating that there are a few years of development left.

Foldable iPhone rumors have been circulating since 2016, and we've previously heard reports about various prototypes that Apple is testing. Samsung has allegedly provided foldable display samples to Apple for testing purposes, but development has not yet expanded beyond a display.

At least one of Apple's foldable ‌iPhone‌ prototypes is said to feature two separate display panels connected with a hinge, a departure from single-display designs that Samsung has introduced. Another has been described as a foldable ‌iPhone‌ with a clamshell design similar to the Galaxy Z Flip.

Samsung has been releasing foldable smartphones for years now, and other Android manufacturers have also embraced foldable technology. Smartphones with foldable displays continuing to face issues with durability and build quality, and they also have high price tags that far exceed the cost of standard smartphones.

Popular Stories

apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...
top stories 2025 07 12

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, iOS 26 Beta 3, and More

Saturday July 12, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
The iOS 26 public beta release is quickly approaching, while developers have recently gotten their hands on a third round of betas that has seen Apple continue to tweak features, design, and functionality. We're also continuing to hear rumors about the iPhone 17 lineup that is now just about right around the corner, while Apple's latest big-budget film appears to be taking off, so read on...

Top Rated Comments

dantracht Avatar
46 months ago
Still need convincing on the whole folding thing.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MisterK Avatar
46 months ago
Folding iPads make far more sense than folding iPhones. Folding an iPad would make it pocketable. The iPhone, on the other hand, is already pocketable and people look at it a couple hundred times a day. Unfolding there adds a LOT of friction.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
46 months ago
Apple always plays the long game. I'm not surprised they're taking their time. The foldables I've seen so far just don't add anything compelling. They're usually a lot thicker that a standard smartphone and have a shorter life span. I don't see that trade-off as worth it for a slightly larger screen (which in many cases isn't even properly optimized).
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ScottishDuck Avatar
46 months ago
I only ever see the Samsung folding phones on steep discounts so I’m assuming they’re not particularly popular.

I don’t see a point until the crease is eliminated.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tedley Avatar
46 months ago
Hello $2500 iPhone!
OK, $2499.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
46 months ago
An iPhone I bought in 2010 is still in good use.

Apple does not make devices built to last a limited amount of time, so technology must improve A LOT before they enter the foldable arena.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)