Apple plans to launch its foldable iPhone in 2023
It was only a matter of time, after seeing the relative-success of the Galaxy Z line of products. A new report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states that Apple is currently working on the development of a foldable iPhone that will launch sometime in 2023.
The device is said to have an 8-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display, with SDC as the display supplier and Samsung Founder as the DDI foundry provider. For the unaware, DDI is short for Digital Display Interface, and allows for “immersive visual experiences while using low power”.
This could be our first official look at the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3
Kuo also stated that Apple plans on shipping between 15 and 20 million units in 2023, suggesting that Apple is going “all-in” on the new design. Compared to the estimated 800,000 Galaxy Z Fold 2 units that Samsung shipped in 2020, there is a definitely a stark contrast here.
However, it’s important to note that if Samsung truly does replace the Galaxy Note line with the Z Fold, then the company will already have an upper hand in the market. With the Galaxy Z Fold 3 announcement looming, it’s very possible that this phone could make or break the popularity of the foldable market ahead of Apple joining the fray.
For the most part, the only real option for a foldable phone here in the U.S. is the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Xiaomi has only just announced its own foldable with the Mi Mix Fold, and Huawei’s Mate X2 looks absolutely gorgeous, but still is limited in avaialbility and cannot use Google’s services. And that’s not to mention the $3,000 price tag if you decide to try and get one for yourself.
The foldable smartphone market is definitely heating up, and it’s going to be interesting where Samsung goes from here as Apple gears up to take the market by storm in a couple of years. It’s also important to note that Apple could change course and push the release even further, but we’re still a long-ways away from anything like that happening.