(Iyaz Akhtar)
Apple is hard at work on foldable iPhones and has settled on a clamshell form factor, according to The Information. But, as with all current foldables, durability is an issue Apple hasn't overcome.
The report says Apple set itself a high bar for its foldable phone ambitions. The company wanted a very thin foldable: about half the thickness of a standard iPhone when unfolded. The company also wanted to solve one of the most pressing problems with foldables: the crease gets worse over time. With all that, Apple still wanted outward-facing screens.
But the report suggests Apple hasn't achieved that and is still working through durability issues. The company may have temporarily put a foldable iPhone on hold to shift toward a foldable iPad with an 8-inch screen. An iPad, which you won't put in your pocket, may be an easier starting point since it can be thicker and less durable.
The Information suggests Apple now has at least two prototypes for a foldable iPhone. But they're still very early in development, and Apple is trying to meet specific goals. Among them is creating a device that will lie flat and work with an Apple Pencil. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series works with that company's stylus, but only a specific model was created to work with the foldable's plastic screen. It's unclear if Apple is going a similar route.
The report suggests that Apple is unlikely to launch a foldable alongside the iPhone 16 or possibly even the iPhone 17. Apple had set itself a release date goal of 2025, but that may have slipped as it works through the difficulties of foldables.