The Royole Flexpai was a bit of an unrefined product, but it was the birth of the foldable segment and that will never change. That was in 2018, and now, almost six years later, brands like Samsung, OnePlus, Honor, Google, and so on, are getting their feet wet and doing amazing.
However, there's one notable exception, and that's Apple. While the competition might be good, it doesn't look like it is going to come anytime soon, as reports say Apple is planning an early 2027. Will they miss the window of opportunity, let's discuss that.
Apple Is Taking Their Sweet Time Jumping Into Foldables
As much as you might not like Apple, you can't deny that they are trendsetters. When they bring a new look (or remove a feature), many Android manufacturers tend to follow. Sure, Android devices tend to adopt new technology faster, but Apple fans will tell you that the Cupertino company makes sure that things are perfect before jumping on.
While that might be true, especially with the company's approach to foldables, it is hard to argue against the fact that Apple may end up being too late to the party. A report from Alpha Business in Korea claims that the company is planning to launch its first foldable smartphone in early 2027, nearly a decade after the first foldable device was released.
Sure, just like Android users, Apple fans tend to be very loyal to the brand, and they'll certainly have a lot of long-term Apple users in line for the new device. However, I doubt it may have the pull necessary to push Android foldable fans to switch over.
Initially, it was said that the company would launch the phone in late 2026, just like all their other iPhones, but the company may be anticipating some slight hiccups when it comes to foldable display demand, leading them to push the expected release date back a tad. This will make it the first major iPhone to launch earlier in the year, rather than later.
Regardless, if you're a real tech lover, you'll be excited to see what Apple has up its sleeve, but with other manufacturers having such a major headstart (even Microsoft is getting back into the game soon), I won't be expecting an insanely competitive device (especially price-wise — $2,000+ maybe).
Apple Might Set Out For A Foldable That Has Its Display On The Outer Surface, Rumor Says
We covered this before, but if a rumor is to be believed, Apple might be going for a foldable design similar to the Huawei Mate X and Mate Xs; the screen on the outside surface when folded.
However, I'm not convinced that this will pan out to be true, as Huawei themselves left that foldable structure after their first two foldable attempts and went back to the now traditional “screen on the inside” design. And even if Apple truly favors that look, the time from now to 2027 is more than enough for them to reconsider. Foldable displays are already delicate enough without having the screen point outwards.
