Apple Look To Join Samsung In Foldable Smartphone Market

Days after it was revealed that Samsung is set to roll out their Galxy X foldable smartphone, Apple has leaked that they also are working on a fold and bend model.

It now appears that Apple who are fast earning a reputation for copying Samsung initatives is working on a Galaxy X rival of its own.

A patent application filed by Apple and published by the US Patent and Trademark Office reveals a concept for electronic devices with flexible displays – like folding smartphones.

The patent application reads: “An electronic device may have a flexible portion that allows the device to be folded. The device may have a flexible display.” It also goes on to describe how the screen will have a touch sensor that includes an optically clear adhesive that is flexible and “facilitates bending of the display”.

The bad news is that the patent application is no guarantee that this technology will ever make it into an actual device. All the patent does is prove that Apple has conceived a flexible phone concept, but getting such a phone to market is much more difficult – and may not even be part of Apple’s product roadmap.

Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Apple working on a foldable smartphone. There have previously been rumours that Apple was working with LG to produce a foldable iPhone.

LG has a prominent and hugely successful display-making division, and the company was also early to the market with curved-screen phones á la the LG G Flex series.

Apple hasn’t confirmed any such plans however, although if Samsung does launch a folding Galaxy X early near year as rumoured, then Apple may follow suit with the iPhone 9.

About Post Author

David Richards

David Richards has been writing about technology for more than 30 years. A former Fleet Street journalist, he wrote the Award Winning Series on the Federated Ships Painters + Dockers Union for the Bulletin that led to a Royal Commission. He is also a Logie Winner for Outstanding Contribution To TV Journalism with a story called The Werribee Affair. In 1997, he built the largest Australian technology media company and prior to that the third largest PR company that became the foundation company for Ogilvy PR. Today he writes about technology and the impact on both business and consumers.