Foldable iPhone Release: When Can We Expect Apple’s Galaxy Z Flip Rival?

Tech fans have been treated to several new devices in the market called foldable smartphones. These devices are very promising: they can either offer the convenience of a smartphone that folds into a very compact size, or a smartphone that can transform into a larger device capable of doing more tasks.

Samsung's recently released Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola's Razr reboot are perfect examples for the former. Both of these feature a clamshell design that folds in half horizontally, allowing them to be placed in smaller spaces that larger smartphones won't normally fit in.

Samsung's older Galaxy Fold and Huawei's Mate X, on the other hand, perfectly embody the idea behind the latter. These devices can be folded to resemble a regular-sized smartphone, and can also be unfolded to allow users to enjoy a wider display the size of a tablet. These are meant to allow users to multitask and do more without having to lug a larger device, like a tablet or laptop, around.

Despite the promising ideas and expected benefits that the foldable screens on these devices can bring, it's a fact that foldable displays are still a relatively new technology. That said, fans should still expect to see some problems popping up.

Samsung had a bad experience when it first released the Galaxy Fold early in 2019. Reviewers said the display got broken within two days, prompting the company to redesign the device. The redesigned model, however, still had some problems of its own.

Motorola's new Razr also showed some major display issues. A reviewer for Input mag revealed that the OLED panel was already separating from its protective sheet within a week's time. A test also revealed that its hinge isn't as durable as initially hoped.

Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip is also bound to have some problems down the road. A teardown expert revealed that the device's display could get easily scratched, even by a fingernail. Apparently, the Korean company's “Ultra Thin Glass” isn't really glass at all.

That said, can fans expect Apple to release a foldable device that will put all these to shame? Probably not at this time, iPhoneHacks noted. Apple might've shown interest in the new device category, but it's more likely to wait for display manufacturers to perfect the technology.

Cupertino isn't in the business of making its own smartphone displays yet, and is dependent on other companies like Samsung to supply it with panels used on the iPhone. Until the other OEMs succeed in perfecting the technology, it's very unlikely that Apple will release one that will use it too.