A foldable iPhone may be in the works for 2020
Foldable phones haven't gone much further than the concept stage at this point, but you can bet Apple will be there when they do arrive.
That could happen for iPhone as soon as 2020, according to a new analyst report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Such a form factor would give your iPhone the potential to transform into an iPad.
"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," analyst Wamshi Mohan wrote (h/t CNBC). His report is based on recent meetings with Apple suppliers in Asia.
It's hardly confirmation, but it's yet another sign that Apple will be looking to shake things up with a move away from purely iterative annual iPhone releases. Late last year, the company was awarded a patent for a device with "a flexible display" and the ability to be folded.
Other companies are looking into the folding display business as well -- as evidenced in patents held by Microsoft and Samsung -- but the technology itself has been slow to arrive. Samsung has offered up concepts, but the most recent forecast suggests they won't surface until 2019 at the earliest.
Of course, none of this answers the question of whether or not a phone with a folding display is something that consumers even want.
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
