Apple is working on a foldable iPhone handset for release in 2020, according to a sensational report from one Wall Street analyst.
According to Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan’s note to investors, picked up by CNBC, Apple is working with suppliers on the unorthodox design.
“We expect the iPhones this fall to be largely unchanged for the OLED versions although size changes have proved to be a catalyst in the past,” he wrote (via Engadget).
“Our checks also suggest that Apple is working with suppliers on a foldable phone (that potentially could double up as a tablet) for launch in 2020.”
Related: iPhone 9
While Samsung has been very public in its desire to release phones with foldable or flexible displays, Apple has made no such rumblings.
However, reports the company is working with LG on flexible display technology, coupled with an Apple patent outlining an “electronic device [that] may have a flexible portion that allows [it] to be folded,” mean there might just be be some merit to the analyst’s comments.
Of course, these notes to investors are very much hit and miss, with many analysts more reliable than others. For what its worth, Mohan says he wrote the report after meeting with Apple several suppliers in the Far East.
While it’s entirely possible Apple is exploring the possibility of a foldable phone, a consumer launch would be highly surprising.
We’re taking this report with enough salt to grit the M1 for the entire winter, but it’s a fun one nonetheless.
Do you think Apple would launch a foldable smartphone? Or is this rumour miles wide of the mark? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
