Apple To Bring Out Fold Phone In 2025 – Will The Market Still Be There?
The History Of The Foldable Phone
The first foldable phone was developed by Motorola in 1996/7 yes that long ago, the invention came from StarTaC and was branded, marketed, and distributed by Motorola. The screen and keypad were covered by a hinged lid. When we speak of foldable phones nowadays we are speaking of something completely different. The first foldable smartphone was created by Chinese startup Royole and it was called the Flexpai in 2018. The Flexipai could fold out to give you a 7.8-inch screen tablet, it had a dual function as a phone and as a tablet. The design of the Flexipai was flawed, it was bulky, with uneven bezels and slow software, proving first is not always best. Either way, they will always have the title of the first foldable phone.
Since then, the market has changed. The new emphasis on mobile gaming has caused manufacturers to adjust. For instance, online casino operators have long been pioneers in the mobile gaming scene. Games like the 32Red rainbow riches online have been successful. However, as tech advances, so does what iGaming developers can offer customers. As such, they routinely adapt to the latest hardware and software limits. Screen resolution, wireless communications, camera quality – developers make use of them.
But what is the market for folding phones?
The Current Market For Fold Phones
‘Smartphones are boring’ was the sentiment of many smartphone users in a survey conducted around 2016 and 2017. It is believed this is the statement that made cell phone manufacturers sit up and think of something new. The statement of boring smartphones was aimed at aesthetics rather than their functionality, the things you can do with a smartphone are endless. Smartphone design was limited to size, weight, and screen dimensions, beyond this there was little room to manoeuvre manufacturers. Samsung had even given us the water-resistant Galaxy S7 but that only held our attention for so long.
After the disastrous offering from Royole, Samsung came out with Infinity Flex Display which was the screen design that went into the Galaxy Fold released in late 2018. With this phone, you had a mini tablet folded into your pocket. In 2019 Huawei released the Mate X which was similar to the Galaxy Fold with a few improvements, the side bezels were smaller, and there was a single screen that went around the body of the phone giving you a front and back display of 8 inches. In November 2019 Motorola introduced us to the RAZR, this was exciting to see since this was the company with the first flip phone back in 2003.
Samsung’s response to the RAZR was the Galaxy Z Flip, Huawei came back with the Mate XS and even TCL started developing foldable prototypes.
So Why Hasn’t Apple Released A Foldable?
Apple has always played its cards close and never revealed a product until it was ready and that is something its consumers have come to appreciate. Their products are not only innovative but they are also intuitive and give solutions to real problems rather than just tech gadgets. In January 2021 there were reports of Apple working on its foldable phone with a release date of 2023. In May of the same year, another report said the release date would more likely be in 2025.
For Apple to develop a successful foldable iPhone they would need to integrate iOS and iPadOS onto one phone while still making it durable and functional. The alternative would be to develop new software specifically for a foldable phone. Whichever option Apple chooses they have to ensure it works seamlessly and having entered the game at such a late stage they will have to create a phone that will stand out from the rest.
Will It Be Too Late?
The simple answer is No. Apple consumers are loyal and they would rather wait for a foldable iPhone than opt for an android version. The advantage Apple has in a late release is learning from its competitors’ mistakes. The Galaxy Fold had screen issues and had to be redesigned for durability, the Flexipai was bulky etc. Having seen all this Apple has an opportunity to develop a stellar product for their consumers that will be worth the wait.
