iPhone Flip rumors: Could we finally see Apple's foldable iPhone in 2023?

Apple has a history of instituting major change in the mobile market with every release: the abandonment of the headphone jack, elimination of bezels and adoption of the notch were all trends kicked off by iPhones. And although 5G handsets are more common than ever, 2020's iPhone 12 likely served as most people's introduction to 5G.

Ultimately, foldable tech and the smartphone industry at large has a lot riding on how Apple approaches the dream of an iPhone that folds.

This year Apple showed off a bunch of new products, from the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch 7 to the upgraded MacBook Pros and AirPods 3. But, as expected, we haven't got a glimpse of a foldable iPhone in 2021. Rumors from display analyst Ross Young say we won't see the foldable iPhone, said to be called the iPhone Flip, until 2023 at the earliest, so it isn't a surprise it didn't make an appearance at Apple's September or October events. Still, that hasn't stopped the buzz about the possibility of a foldable iPhone.

While competitors have released various foldable handsets -- Samsung's bendy Galaxy Fold, Z Fold 2 and Z Fold 3, and clamshell Galaxy Z Flip and Z Flip 3 (here's how Samsung's foldable phones compare), and the reboot of the Motorola Razr, to name a few -- Apple has been slower to market. This may be a smart move, since existing foldables have been met with mixed reviews.

We've been following reports of a foldable iPhone for years. Way back in 2017, it was predicted that a foldable iPhone could be coming in the futuristic-sounding year 2020. Obviously, that didn't happen. Analysts and leakers have been kicking the release date down the road ever since, and rumors and wish lists have simmered. Here's everything we know so far.

iPhone Flip release date

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the first foldable iPhone will launch in 2023. He expects Apple to ship an impressive 20 million units in the first year.

A separate report from Digitimes suggested that the iPhone Flip could arrive a year earlier in 2022, but Apple leaker Jon Prosser claimed that 2022 was too optimistic, and that the iPhone Flip won't be arriving until much later. Likewise, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims a foldable iPhone is some two to three years away. So it's looking likely that while Samsung pushes forwards with is foldable phones plans, Apple will be a lot slower and likely more cautious, focusing on the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE 3 releases in 2022.

Another report from Business Korea has also suggested that the iPhone Flip could arrive in 2023, with the twist being that Apple is working on a pair of foldable phone designs. Whether that means there's a pair of designs that Cupertino will pick from, or if it means Apple is working on two foldable phones, remains to be seen.

As 2021 draws to a close, Display Supply Chain Consultants affirmed that a foldable iPhone wouldn't be available until 2023 at the earliest, with 2024 a more likely target.

iPhone Flip display size

Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the first foldable iPhone will have a huge display measuring 8 inches. That would be larger than the rumored Galaxy Z Fold 3 (rumors point to a display between 7 and 7.7 inches) and also bigger than the current iPad mini (7.9 inches).

A different report claims Apple could be working with LG on a 7.5-inch OLED foldable display panel.

iPhone Flip design: What will it look like?

An iPhone Flip concept from ConceptsiPhone (Image credit: ConceptsiPhone)

According to Jon Prosser, Apple has tested two different kinds of iPhone Flip: a fold-out hybrid tablet, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, and a clamshell flip phone design akin to the Galaxy Z Flip range. Those sources also claim Apple will be going ahead with the clamshell design, though it is still early in the development process and there's a chance things could change.

Patent filings also reveal some of the things Apple may be considering for its foldable, including any future devices that might skip the clamshell design in favor of something else.

Last year, we became aware of another Apple patent describing a "joint operating mode" which would allow a single-screen device to be supplemented by a magnetically-connected secondary display. In theory, this mode would allow independent devices to join to comprise one shared space, which doesn't really pertain to the whole singular foldable panel idea. It's more Microsoft Surface Duo than Samsung Galaxy Fold.

Yet another patent, originally filed in the second quarter of 2018 and subsequently unearthed by PatentlyApple, depicts a device with a flexible display that folds closed yet still leaves a small strip at the bottom exposed for easy access to notifications and contextual information. Think of it like a miniature Touch Bar, similar to what's available on the MacBook Pro.

If we go back to beyond last year, we can see earlier musings on foldable designs from Apple, including a patent for a tri-folding display. And if we extend even further back to 2016, we can see one of the earliest foldable iPhone patents, courtesy of MacRumors, depicting a vertically-folding handset similar in orientation to the Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola Razr.

All that feeds the imagination of designers who post concept renderings depicting possible looks for the iPhone Flip/Fold. Take this 3D mockup posted by a YouTube account called #iOS beta news which looks a little bit like a Galaxy Z Flip copycat, down to its slim bezels, centrally-positioned hole-punch camera cutout, minimal exterior display and vertical orientation. It's a design we could envision Apple actually releasing, at least with more fine tuning beyond the rough idea presented here.

Another iPhone Flip concept design from LetsGoDigital features a smaller notch and external cover display in addition to a folding screen.

ConceptsiPhone has also published a video of an iPhone Flip concept that looks a lot like an Apple version of the Galaxy Z Flip 3. It features a smaller notch than the iPhone 12, a 120Hz display and an in-screen Touch ID sensor. It also features an M1 chip, which sounds a bit far fetched, but we'll have to see whether Apple keeps its A series naming convention going forward for iPhones.

When Apple's first foldable iPhone takes shape, Cupertino won't be able to go it alone. Over the last three years, we've heard competing rumors that Apple has been in talks with both LG and Samsung to supply the flexible displays for whatever device it ultimately winds up launching. In March 2019, it was reported by Korean media (via MacRumors) that Samsung Display sent Apple panel samples for analysis.

But what if Apple didn't go with a flexible display for its first folding iPhone, and opted instead for a dual-panel approach like the Surface Duo? That's a possibility posed by Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech, who suggested Cupertino has prototyped such a design. Prosser says this device retains the iPhone 11's rounded appearance — remember, the iPhone 12 re-introduced flat edges to Apple's lineup — but incorporates a hinge, and that the two separate screens come together fairly seamlessly when outstretched.

iPhone Flip: Durability

We saw a patent last October which suggests the iPhone Flip could come with an upgraded version of the iPhone 12's ceramic shield. It would be specifically designed for a flexible display, and consist of four layers: a cover layer, a hardcoat layer, an inner surface, and a transparent support layer. That support layer could even be made of glass or sapphire for additional strength.

There's also been speculation that the display could "heal" itself thanks to a "self-healing material" layer that would minimize the appearance of scratched or dents.

There's no guarantee Apple will launch such a handset, of course, but Prosser's report reminds us that the firm's first foldable phone could play out a number of ways. While flexible panels are all the rage these days, dual-screen hardware could ultimately win out if Apple isn't enamored with the reliability, durability or cost of a device with a single, folding screen.

In February 2020, one Apple patent emerged that would theoretically allow the foldable display to bend in the middle without creating excessive stress on the panel. Inside the hinge, the screen would bow out in a sense, creating more of a gradual curve than a hard crease. The hope is that such a design would assist in durability and extend the life of the display. It's worth noting the Galaxy Z Flip actually incorporates a design not too dissimilar from this.

Apple has since filed a continuation patent that spells out ways of making the iPhone Flip more durable with the help of a crack-resistant display.

iPhone Flip price: What would it cost?

This is the toughest question to answer, both because price has never been a part of what few foldable iPhone rumors there are — another sign that the iPhone Flip will be shipping later rather than sooner — and because the device's cost will largely depend on how Apple approaches the design.

Consider that the Galaxy Fold debuted for $1,980 with a 7.3-inch tablet-like display when unfolded, and a tiny 4.6-inch panel on the outside. Just six months later, the Galaxy Z Flip released with a more vertically-proportioned 6.7-inch screen coated in Ultra-Thin Glass for better durability for $600 less. Samsung just cut the price on the Galaxy Z Fold 2 by $200, but that could be to reduce inventory in advance of a new version's launch.

If Apple opts for a smaller and cheaper foldable, the phone's price may not be a far cry from premium handsets like the $1,099 iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, if the foldable iPhone is intended as a phone that can become a tablet when needed, like the Galaxy Fold, it's certainly possible the price could well exceed those of Apple's more conventional smartphones.

iPhone Flip: The competition

If the iPhone Flip doesn't arrive until 2023, Apple will certainly be giving its rivals a head start on the foldable phone front. Samsung is now up to its third version of the Galaxy Z Fold and there's a new Galaxy Z Flip, too — those phones have reportedly sold very well, and price could be a big reason. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 starts at $999, the first foldable phone to be available for less than $1,000.

Assuming Motorola continues to develop the Motorola Razr as a foldable, the iPhone Flip would face some entrenched competition by the time it launched — and that's without any other Android phone makers coming out with devices of their own.

At least one would-be competitor sounds like it's backing out of the race to build the best foldable. Google had reportedly been working on a Pixel Fold that was rumored to arrive well ahead of anything Apple had in the works. But a report claims that Google is walking away from the Pixel Fold, apparently because the company determined it would be too difficult to make a profit on such a phone. It raises the question of whether anyone outside of Samsung can succeed with foldable phones.

Apple has rarely been first-to-market with its landmark products, only launching devices like the iPod, iPhone and iPad when it feels that its addressed the shortcomings of similar devices. You could see the company take a similar tack with the iPhone Flip.

iPhone Flip outlook

There's so much we've yet to learn regarding Apple's foldable iPhone plans, but one thing is for certain: Whatever strategy Apple takes in developing its first foldable phone will likely dictate the trajectory of the industry.

Samsung may have been the first out of the foldable phone gate with the Galaxy Fold, but that company is continuing to test out different form factors as it looks to find out what phone shoppers really want.

Release date: The iPhone Flip launch is a moving target

It's no secret Apple has its sights set on a foldable iPhone. The company has been registering patents for foldable mechanisms and devices for almost a decade now with no launch date in sight. The question is whether any of them will ever see the light of day, and if so, when?

Early rumors pointed to 2021 as a potential target date, but as we approach the end of the year, that seems unlikely. A report from longtime Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo (via MacRumors) suggests 2023 might be more realistic, if it ever happens. According to Kuo, Apple still needs to figure out technology and mass production issues before bringing a device like this to market, hence the two-year wait.

Speculation from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman aligns with Kuo's predictions. In his Power On Newsletter, Gurman says that the foldable iPhone may not arrive for another two to three years. More recent rumors from Young say a foldable iPhone is expected in 2023 at the earliest, but it's more likely to arrive in 2024

Design: What will the foldable iPhone look like?

The 2023 timeline would match up with a report from Bloomberg earlier this year that indicated Apple already has a working prototype of a foldable iPhone display. While it's not yet a working model, it's a step up from a patent which, until then, was all we had seen.

Apple seems to have taken out every patent under the sun when it comes to foldable displays, including an origami-style folding display, a flip-up display and even a wraparound display. And while we don't know which one will make the final cut, both Kuo and Bloomberg seem to agree that the current prototype is more of a traditional foldout design that would open up to a 7.5- or 8-inch main display.

Unlike Microsoft's Surface Duo, which has the hinges on the exterior, Apple's would have one continuous display with a hidden hinge mechanism like the Galaxy Fold.

However, Apple leaker Jon Prosser reported in early 2021 that the iPhone Flip will likely use a clamshell design and come in several "fun colors." Between the flashy purple iPhone 12, the new blue and pink option for the iPhone 13, an array of fun colors for Apple's first foldable device is definitely a possibility.

YouTuber ConceptsiPhone also gave us a glimpse into what the iPhone Flip could look with concept art of the foldable iPhone in the colors blue, red, gold and green.

Roadblocks: What still stands in Apple's way?

While Samsung and others have been testing the waters, Apple has been learning from the pain points of their foldable devices and figuring out how they'd be used.

One of these pain points: the crease. A lot of the current cover materials, including the glass and plastic mix that Samsung uses for the Z Fold and Z Flip, show a visible crease when folded out to full screen. To avoid it, Apple would likely have to wait for Corning, Apple's glass provider, to create some kind of bendable version of its Ceramic Shield screen. The company is already working on a bendable glass, but hasn't announced a launch date for it.

Cost: Foldable phones don't come cheap

Price is another major problem for these types of devices. Although Samsung lowered the price for its most recent foldable phones, its previous model, the Fold 2, cost $2,000 which is over twice the price of Samsung's other flagship phones. And, a foldable iPhone wouldn't be any cheaper. Apple's foldable needs to be in line with current foldable and nonfoldable models to be able to compete against other brands and entice iPhone users to ditch their single-screen devices and pay more for a foldable.

A report in April found that half of American consumers are interested in buying a foldable phone, though Apple customers are slightly less willing to make the leap than Samsung or LG users. But perhaps the "Apple effect" will change those stats if and when a foldable iPhone ever becomes reality.