Apple is currently working on a larger foldable gadget, as indicated by the latest reports hinting at the development of a foldable MacBook laptop with a 20-inch screen. Other, more recent reports revealed that Apple’s iPhone launch will be delayed until 2027, and also stated that Vision Pro employees have been reassigned to focus on developing foldable devices. There is.
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Apple is said to be planning a foldable 20.3-inch hybrid in 2025 and a foldable iPhone in 2026 – 9to5Mac
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Additionally, a previous patent filed last year was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indicating that Apple is actively considering a clamshell foldable design.
This patent (US 20240147644 A1) was filed in October of the previous year and published by the USPTO on May 2, 2024.
As reported by Patently Apple, which first disclosed these details, Apple has a very interesting hinge design aimed at smaller or more compact foldable devices.
In Apple’s scenario, this could be a Plus or Max sized iPhone or even an iPad Mini. To eliminate ambiguity, Apple states that the device in question can function as a mobile phone, computer, or portable electronic device.
Apple’s design seems to reflect what most smartphone manufacturers are currently doing with foldable devices. This includes a chassis split into two halves connected by a synchronized gear plate with interlocking teeth to facilitate the opening and closing mechanism while protecting the folding display inside.
20-inch foldable iPad to be released in 2025, one year before foldable iPhone
— Droid Phone News (@Droid_News) May 6, 2024
These diagrams suggest that the foldable device is secured by interconnected links that limit rotation, similar to the metal links on a metal watch bracelet. The mechanisms within these links appear to be fairly complex compared to those currently used by most manufacturers.
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