Apple Inc. is already in the process of developing its own version of a foldable smartphone. A recent patent application revealed that the tech giant out of Cupertino, California already has the groundwork for a foldable iPhone that could rival that of the Samsung Galaxy Foldable.
The patent for Apple's foldable phone was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on October 12, 2018, and was made available to the public last week. The patent filed by the Silicon Valley-based company states that the electronic device would have a first and second display section that would be coupled by a hinge that would include a four-bar linkage. The patent also claims that the two housings would be able to rotate relative to each other.
In layman's term, it means that the housing (main body) of the electronic device (presumably Apple's foldable iPhone) will include two display screens which will be able to rotate freely in both directions using the aforementioned hinge that has a four-bar hinge. There is also an independent claim that is also provided for a portable electronic device.
While details about Apple's version of a foldable phone are scarce, the patent does reveal that would relatively be different from existing or currently-being-designed foldable phones. Based on the renders provided by LetsGoDigital, the screen of the Apple foldable phone would be able to both ways.
It is important to note that submitting a patent doesn't necessarily mean that the subject of the patent or the device would go into production. In some cases, the patents just lay dormant or the devices come out so different from the original designs. So, currently, there is no way to tell if Apple Inc. would go pursue the development of a foldable smartphone.
Also, Apple Inc. is known to release its flagship products a year or two behind the other companies. This may be because Apple wants to make sure that the designs and concepts incorporated in a certain device are successful. Samsung is also known to utilize this strategy. But instead of allowing the other companies to lead the way, Samsung uses their mid-market phones as a benchmark to test a feature.
A safe bet is that Apple Inc. would probably head into a developmental stage for a foldable iPhone. After all, the foldable phones seem to be getting traction due to the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy Foldable. And Apple Inc. surely wouldn't want to be left behind.
There was a time when people are scared stiff if they see their mobile phones bending in an unnatural angle. Now, it seems like everyone wants to bend their smartphones. With the Samsung Galaxy Fold nearing its official debut, Apple Inc., naturally, would want to pop its own bendable iPhone. And with Huawei and Xiaomi ready to crash the Apple-Samsung rivalry, it's going to be an interesting race for foldable phones supremacy.
