Samsung has the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 3 and clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 3, Motorola has a Razr revival in the works, and Google is rumored to be working on a foldable Pixel. Apple has been slower to commercialize than its competitors, who have produced a variety of foldable phones. However, given the mixed reception to foldable phones, this may be a wise choice.
In 2021, Apple will unveil a slew of new items. This includes, among other things, the iPhone 13, Apple Watch 7, improved MacBook Pros, and AirPods 3. However, we have yet to see the foldable iPhone, which might be branded the iPhone Flip, as promised. Despite the fact that the iPhone Flip's release date appears to be a changing goal, rumors say that Apple's foldable might arrive as early as 2023. Even then, speculation regarding the prospect of a foldable iPhone continues.
For years, rumors of a foldable iPhone have circulated. In 2017, it was anticipated that a foldable iPhone would be released in the far-off year of 2020. Obviously, this did not occur. Since then, analysts and leakers have been pushing back the release date, fueling rumors and wish lists. Here's what we've learned so far.
Release date: The iPhone Flip launch is a moving target
It's no secret that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone. For almost a decade, the corporation has been filing patents for folding processes and devices, with no release date in sight. The question is whether or not any of them will ever be published, and if so, when.
Early reports suggested 2021 as a possible release date, but the year has passed with no sign of a foldable iPhone. According to a revelation from renowned Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), 2023 may be more probable. According to Kuo, Apple is still working out technological and mass manufacturing issues before releasing a gadget like this, which explains the delay.
Cost: Foldable phones don't come cheap
Another big issue with these devices is their cost. Despite the fact that Samsung's most recent foldable phones have been reduced in price, the previous model, the Fold 2, cost $2,000, which is more than twice the price of Samsung's other flagship phones. A foldable iPhone would also be more expensive. To compete with other brands and encourage iPhone customers to forsake their single-screen devices and spend more for a foldable, Apple's foldable must be comparable to current foldable and nonfoldable models.
According to a research released in April, half of American consumers are interested in purchasing a foldable phone, while Apple customers are somewhat less likely to do so than Samsung or LG customers. However, if and when a foldable iPhone becomes a reality, the "Apple effect" may alter those figures.