Apple could launch an 8-inch foldable iPhone in 2023

[Shawn Knight]

Bottom line: For Apple, it doesn’t seem to be a matter of “if” they will build a foldable, but “when.” We’ve heard rumors on the matter dating back to at least 2017 although nothing has publicly materialized yet. And really, it’s probably wise to sit back and let others go first so they can see what does and doesn’t work in the real world.

Apple is expected to launch a foldable iPhone featuring an 8-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display in 2023 according to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a recent note to investors seen by MacRumors, Kuo said he came to that conclusion based on his latest industry survey. SDC will serve as the exclusive display supplier “and Samsung Foundry as the exclusive DDI foundry provider,” Kuo added.

The analyst also expects Apple to adopt TPK’s silver nanowire touch solution due to its advantages over SDC’s Y-Octa tech.

Artist interpretation of what a foldable iPhone might look like

Kuo believes that, based on Apple’s requested capacity, the company is aiming to ship 15 million to 20 million foldable iPhones in 2023. He further predicts foldables will become a must-have and help create the next big upgrade super cycle.

As Kuo correctly identifies, the current crop of foldable smartphones don’t really do a great job of blurring the lines between smartphone and tablet. They’re also a bit rough around the edges as manufacturers are still working through design and durability issues. Eventually, however, Kuo sees foldables as devices that more seamlessly blend elements of smartphones, tablets and laptops into a single device.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/89526-apple-could-launch-8-inch-foldable-iphone-2023.html

 

[hahahanoobs]

With Apple joining the party this late, I expect nothing but something amazing. Anything less will be a joke imo.

 

[terzaerian]

Californian lifestyle company to possibly embrace gadget gimmick, reel at 11

 

[VitalyT]

Foldables aren't going away anytime soon

I believe they will, maybe not soon. They are temporarily taking up the market that should belong to digital glasses, because the latter still got a long way to go. But ultimately, since it is all about a larger view of things, foldable screens will go away in favor of glasses that have the potential to offer much larger picture.

 

[duckofdeath]

I believe they will, maybe not soon. They are temporarily taking up the market that should belong to digital glasses, because the latter still got a long way to go. But ultimately, since it is all about a larger view of things, foldable screens will go away in favor of glasses that have the potential to offer much larger picture.

What the fliuch does a pair of glasses have to do with phones? My Z Flip is an ultra compact evolution of a 6.8" phone. They're not related in any way. Never will be. "Smart" glasses are stupid. People who wear them daily don't want a pair that requires recharging and no one else likes to wear them.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Folding phones are a stupid answer to a stupid problem: people keep buying phones too big to hold or put in their pockets.

 

[VitalyT]

What the fliuch does a pair of glasses have to do with phones? My Z Flip is an ultra compact evolution of a 6.8" phone. They're not related in any way. Never will be. "Smart" glasses are stupid. People who wear them daily don't want a pair that requires recharging and no one else likes to wear them.

Did you even read the post you quoted? I explained it all right there, you just ignored what I said.

 

[duckofdeath]

Folding phones are a stupid answer to a stupid problem: people keep buying phones too big to hold or put in their pockets.

Multicore is stupid. People keep trying to do more than one thing at the time on their telephone apparatuses.

 

[terzaerian]

Multicore is stupid. People keep trying to do more than one thing at the time on their telephone apparatuses.

The smartphone paradigm is stupid. A polygamous marriage of mediocre cameras, computers, batteries, and operating systems that has raced further to the bottom despite ramping up in price since its inception.

 

[Danny101]

I haven't asked for any screen bigger than 5.5 in. There are tablets and laptops if I need anything bigger.

 

[Steve Lalancette]

Anyway, Apple doesn't have the premium feature called 'headphone jack'.
So, I'm not interested... I only want a premium experience with my phone.

 

[psycros]

The smartphone paradigm is stupid. A polygamous marriage of mediocre cameras, computers, batteries, and operating systems that has raced further to the bottom despite ramping up in price since its inception.

Couldn't agree more. Ultimately you get a huge compromise that doesn't measure up to single-purpose devices.

 

[Dimitriid]

Pff yeah ok: iPhones used to fold very easily since 2014: