Over the past few years, we’ve been seeing a bit of a shift in the smartphone market. For the most part, every smartphone released has retained the same slab design that has been around since the first iPhone. However, on the Android side of things, companies like Samsung have started to shift to a completely different form factor.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones are still very-much niche products, but there’s definitely a growing demand for foldable phones. As of July 2022, Samsung confirmed that it sold almost 10 million foldable phones over the course of 2021, which represented a 300% increase in sales compared to 2020. But the next question is — when will Apple release the iPhone Flip, or some variation of a phone that folds (or flips) in half?
While there are definitely those who would prefer to use a phone that folds out to the size of a tablet, that’s not where the market is going. Out of the almost 10 million foldable phones Samsung sold in 2021, about 70% of the total was accounted for by the Galaxy Z Flip 3. And this is the market that Apple is most likely to target.
One of the most common complaints about larger iPhones is that they can be unwieldy to use, and almost impossible to use with one hand. But if you took the iPhone 14 Pro Max, with its 6.7-inch display, and folded it in half, it would be much more pocketable. We’ll touch more on this in the next section, but presumably, Apple would also offer a way for you to see incoming notifications, similar to what the Cover Screen provides for Galaxy Z Flip owners.
As for an iPhone Fold edition, that feels much less likely given that Apple will still want to make money, and releasing a phone that folds out into the size of a tablet, would likely cut into sales of the iPad Mini. There are instances where Apple releases products with a bit of an overlap, but it’s not all that common. But there’s also the difference in stylus support as we aren’t expecting to see an iPhone equipped with Apple Pencil support anytime soon. And this would definitely be something that potential buyers would want from a folding iPhone.
iPhone Flip: What Will It Look Like?
As you might have guessed, if you want to get an overall idea of what an iPhone Flip would look like, simply take a gander at the Galaxy Z Flip 4. When unfolded, this features a 6.7-inch display, complete with a 1.9-inch Cover Screen on the outside casing. This provides a quick and easy way to look at notifications, while also being home to a few interactive widgets such as being able to set a timer.
Unless Apple decides to change its design aesthetic anytime in the near future, we also expect an iPhone Flip to basically look like an iPhone 14, with a hinge in the middle and a flexible display. This means flat edges on the sides, along with speakers and the charging port on the bottom, with the buttons likely found in the same place as the non-folding iPhone.
Honestly, one of the biggest questions that we currently have is what Apple would plan to do with the cameras. The iPhone 14 Pro lineup features the largest camera module that we’ve ever seen on an iPhone, and we only expect it to grow even larger. Rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro are already circulating, suggesting that Apple will introduce a telescopic lens for better telephoto photography. This means a larger camera module, and in turn, a larger camera bump on the back of the iPhone.
It puts Apple in a precarious position, as an iPhone Flip would likely cost even more than whatever Pro Max iPhone is released that year. And Apple likely wouldn’t want to release a potentially-expensive phone with a mediocre or “just okay” photography experience.
Then there’s the question of “the crease”. Whenever a new foldable phone is released, potential buyers look to reviews to see whether the crease on those phones has been improved. But this technology is still in its infancy, and while you definitely get used to it after a while, a crease in the middle of your screen might be a bit too jarring for some. This is another likely reason why Apple has yet to release an iPhone Flip.
iPhone Flip: When Will It Be Released and For How Much?
If there’s anything that we’ve learned from Apple over the years, it’s that the company might not always be the first to release something new, but when it does, it usually is done to almost perfection. Apple isn’t going to go the route that Samsung and other companies have, releasing half-baked products that need to be recalled due to unforeseen durability concerns (i.e. the original Galaxy Fold).
Apple is going to take its time trying to make sure that everything meets the company’s and customers’ high standards. On the other hand, Apple has presumably been working on a foldable iPhone or tablet since around 2011. Evidence of this first appeared in patents that were filed for a device with the following description:
“In the described embodiment, the flexible display assembly is configured to present visual content at any portion of the transparent housing.”
Originally, rumors suggested that Apple would release its first iPhone Flip sometime in 2023, likely coming as a “One More Thing” announcement. However, given the ongoing supply chain issues, combined with Apple’s inability to find a suitable display, recent rumors now point to a 2025 release date.
When it comes to pricing for a potential iPhone Flip, again, we would just have to look at Samsung. Back in 2019, when the original Galaxy Fold was introduced, Samsung’s retail price started at $1,980. And the original Galaxy Z Flip arrived with a $1,380 price tag. Assuming Apple goes the “flip” route, we honestly wouldn’t be surprised if an iPhone Flip was released for somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500. Obviously, we hope that isn’t the case, but the dreaded “Apple Tax” is still something to be aware of, even if it falls a bit short of what the competition is offering.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
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