Kuo: Apple Testing 9-Inch Foldable Device, but Foldable iPhone Unlikely Until 2025 or Later

Apple is testing a device with a 9-inch foldable display, but the company's long-rumored foldable iPhone is unlikely to launch until 2025 or later, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

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On Twitter, Kuo said that Apple is "actively testing" a device with a 9-inch foldable OLED display and a PPI somewhere between the iPhone and the iPad. This device is purportedly being used to evaluate and verify the key technologies involved in Apple's foldable, and may not feature the specifications of any final retail product.

Kuo believes that Apple's foldable product development is initially focusing on medium-sized devices, followed by devices with larger displays, before finally expanding to small devices like the ‌iPhone‌.

Kuo also revised his prediction from last year that claimed that Apple will launch its foldable ‌iPhone‌ as soon as 2024, explaining that it is now clear that this prediction needs to be revised to 2025 at the earliest. He added that Apple's first foldable device may be a hybrid ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌, or simply a foldable ‌iPad‌.

Kuo's comments come in response to a report from the The Elec, which claimed that Apple is collaborating with LG to develop a foldable OLED display panel with ultra-thin cover glass for future Apple tablets and notebooks. In February, display analyst Ross Young ignited rumors about Apple working on large foldable devices, explaining that the company is exploring all-screen foldable notebooks with displays around 20-inches in size.

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Top Rated Comments

blairh Avatar
41 months ago
Only 3.5 more years of people on this site making comments about how they don’t want this until they see the keynote and immediately pre-order.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WiiDSmoker Avatar
41 months ago
But people on here told me that Apple would never copy Samsung
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
41 months ago
No, thank you.

I’m not interested in foldable iPhones anymore. Never have and never will. Let Samsung keep its foldable smartphone crown.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DanteHicks79 Avatar
41 months ago
Foldable phones are little more than a gimmick, like 3D tvs. Remember 3D tvs? They were being massively hyped - and nobody bought. How many 3D tvs do you see on the market now?

Not even Android folk are really all that excited about foldables. If they were, you'd see them everywhere.

Maybe instead of making foldable devices, Apple can focus on releasing iOS versions that don't require a zillion patches and updates to deliver the functionality promised at launch?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Corsig Avatar
41 months ago
I always remember when people screamed no one needed an iPad before it was released. “Who wants a giant iPhone?” Now look how many are sold. I’ll wait until it’s actually released if ever to pass judgment on whether I need it or not
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
41 months ago
Note to all:

Not all Apple products need to be for you
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)