This could be the year of the foldable smartphone with both Samsung and LG rumoured to unleash their flexy phones towards the end of 2017. Now evidence has come to light that suggests Apple is working on its own foldable iPhone.
LG phone that folds out into a tablet spotted
A patent has been revealed, filed by Apple, that describes a phone which can be folded using a fabric housing and flexible display. This sounds similar to what Samsung and LG are expected to unveil later this year.
The idea is to offer a smartphone that can also fold-out to function as a tablet. In the case of the rumoured LG and Samsung devices they’re expected to fold out into 7-inch tablets from a phone that can fit in a pocket.
The Apple patent describes the flexible screen as having light emitting diodes, which shows Apple is already focused on moving towards OLED in the future. While Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 7S or iPhone 8 with OLED display options, it isn’t expected to release a folding phone this year.
Perhaps Apple’s 10th anniversary iPhone 8 will be more radical than expected and even come in a folding OLED version when it arrives in 2018.
One rumour has even suggested that Apple will offer a transparent display iPhone, ideal for augmented reality where the real world can have graphical information overlaid when the phone is held up to it. Read more on that below.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
This is how Apple will make the iPhone 8 transparent
via TheLeaker
Luke is a former freelance writer for T3 with over two decades of experience covering tech, science and health. Among many others Luke wrote about health tech, software and apps, VPNs, TV, audio, smart home, antivirus, broadband, smartphones, cars and plenty more. In his free time, Luke used to climb mountains, swim outside and contort his body into silly positions while breathing as calmly as possible.
-
Technics debuts its first wireless bookshelf speakers and they're looking mighty fine
The Technics SC-CX700 add touch of class to your wireless music streaming
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Apple Watch SE 3: what we know so far about the upcoming premium headphones and all the features we would like to see
The future of the Apple Watch SE is looking bright (and maybe a little plastic)
By Matt Kollat Published