Apple’s strategy for foldable phones can be likened to a snake story. It’s been several years since rumors about this strategy first emerged. Although Samsung, Motorola and other brands already offer foldable devices, the Cupertino giant seemed to have decided to take a longer route and wait for this technology to mature first.
A foldable Apple product to be offered could be an iPhone or an iPad / MacBook hybrid. But for now, all we know about this product is that we have to wait at least a few more years for it to be available. In short, there is no concrete information at the moment.
Still, just because we’re no closer to releasing a foldable Apple product doesn’t mean Apple and its manufacturers aren’t doing their best to get this product to market as soon as possible. According to a new report from Korean publication The Elec, Samsung is reorganizing its teams to focus their capabilities on responding to Apple’s foldable device project.
The South Korean manufacturer is looking for a new source of revenue, and Apple’s possible foldable devices could be that source, the publication reported. Samsung’s work on projects for Apple foldables, including 20.25-inch panels, suggests it aims to secure Apple orders for future foldable products.
Various reports from DSCC, Bloomberg and Omdia have also confirmed this future device. The organizations believe that Apple is working on a foldable hybrid iPad/MacBook with a 20-inch screen, not a foldable iPhone. Bloomberg even claims that this device could be released by 2026.
Ross Young from DSCC shared in a news article published in 2022 that suppliers were in talks with Apple to create a 20-inch foldable product. The idea behind this device was to combine the usability of a laptop with a singular display like you might see on an iPad. Young even said that the foldable MacBook Hybrid could serve as a true dual-use product. Such a device can function as a laptop with a full-size keyboard, as well as a standalone monitor when not folded or used with an external keyboard. In addition, Young said that the device can also support 4K or higher resolutions.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman later confirmed Young’s news in his Power On newsletter. While the company is working on a dual-screen layout, Apple may opt for a foldable 20-inch display with a physical keyboard or virtual keyboard on one side of the folding screen, he said.
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