Compared to what other smartphone brands have to offer, Apple seems to be far behind the competition when it comes to foldables. The Cupertino giant has yet to release or even show off its first foldable device with a foldable display, while other brands have at least one foldable model in their existing line of smartphones. Recent rumors have pointed to Apple working on larger foldable devices, and the latest report points towards the development of a foldable MacBook laptop with a 20-inch screen. A more recent report noted that Apple's iPhone has been delayed until 2027 and even claims that Vision Pro staff have now been ordered to work on the foldable device. Now, an older patent that was filed last year has been published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), suggesting that Apple is indeed working on clamshell designs.
The patent (US 20240147644 A1) was filed in October of last year and was published by the USPTO on May 2, 2024. According to a report by Patently Apple, which was the first to pull these details from the light, Apple has a very interesting hinge. design for what appears to be intended for a smaller or more compact foldable, which in Apple's case could be a Plus or Max-sized iPhone or an iPad Mini. To make things clear, Apple refers to the device in question as something that could be a mobile phone, a computer, or a portable electronic device.
Every foldable device out there today relies on a reliable hinge mechanism and a foldable screen. Apple's designs seem to be similar to what most smartphone manufacturers have achieved with their foldables these days. This would include the two halves of the chassis joined by synchronized gear plates with interlocking teeth to guide the opening and closing mechanism and protect the inner folding screen. The foldable device according to the diagrams appears to be held together by interlocking links (like the metal links on a metal watch bracelet) with limited rotation. The mechanism of these interconnect links seems to be much more complex compared to what most manufacturers have today.
A quick glance also shows that Apple's hinge design due to its complexity appears substantially thicker than what is available on most foldable smartphones today. And given how thick it looks in the patent's diagrams, it might actually make more sense in a foldable iPad than an iPhone, pointing to older rumors about Apple working on a foldable iPad instead of a foldable iPhone .
Designing a hinge for a larger tablet or even a laptop would also reduce Apple's challenges compared to designing one for an iPhone, since most tablets and computers don't require stricter IP ratings , with which some manufacturers have only partially struggled so far. Samsung's currently available Galaxy Z Fold 5 (Review), for example, offers an IPX8 rating (which offers minimal protection against dust and debris), while its regular smartphones offer an IP68 rating suitable for resistance to dust and water.
