Samsung and Huawei started out as the pioneers, but the folding smartphone market is getting bigger and bigger. Or at least the amount of supply there is, since the demand is not so clear in view of the high prices. In all this, many look to Apple waiting to see if it adds to this technology or not. Passing fad or long-term innovation. Only time will tell, but in the meantime there are certainties that the Californian company is working on it.
Last year it was leaked that Apple had passed a testing process for two folding mobile prototypes. If we add to this the number of patents registered these years around this technology, one could expect that sooner or later the company will end up launching such a device. But what is the truth in it? Will it be this year?
No, there will be no ‘iFold’ in 2022
Whatever the hypothetical name of the folding iPhone , the truth is that it will not be seen this year. And while it is true that there can always be room for something unexpected, there is a very high probability that it will not be now. Due to the information that is handled from the supply chain, and despite those who try to misinform, Apple does not have in its roadmap to launch a device with these characteristics in the short term.
In fact, it is known that this year there will be 5 new iPhones, starting with the third generation of the ‘SE’ that would arrive in the coming months and ending with the four new iPhone 14s. Apart from this, new Macs, iPads, Apple Watch and including a first look at the company’s first mixed reality goggles/headset, but not a foldable screen device. In fact, the company’s screen suppliers are already more aware of other things.
We may never see it
We are not in the head of Tim Cook or other managers or workers close to the leadership of Apple, but from sources close to them it has been learned that the company is closely watching the evolution of this trend. Beyond still seeing many drawbacks, especially at the visual and fragility level, he is trying to see if there is finally a good demand from the public.
As we said before, the market share of folding is now derisory. However, it cannot be determined exactly if it is due to a lack of interest or because of the prices they have, which are usually higher than the premium range. It would be necessary to observe if one day, with this more democratized technology, users definitely go for these terminals or continue to prefer the “classic” format. In any case, it does not seem that it will be Apple who is encouraged to launch this cheap folding.
So if you’ve been hoping to see an iOS foldable, you’d better get rid of that idea. We can not rule it out in the future, but 2022 will not be the year and, if you hurry us, maybe never.