On February 7th, sources informed that Apple is building at least two iPhone prototypes that fold horizontally like flip covers. If Apple ultimately launches a foldable iPhone, it will be one of the biggest hardware design changes in the history of the product. According to insiders, the foldable iPhone is still in the early stages of development and is not within the company's mass production plan for 2024 or 2025. Apple has recently been in contact with at least one manufacturer in Asia, seeking components related to two foldable iPhones of different sizes. (The Information)
According to the Tianyancha App, Apple has applied for multiple patents related to foldable displays. Among them, the patent "Hinge for Folding Display Devices" shows that the hinge of the patent has a series of interconnected connectors. During device folding, the pin can slide along a crescent shaped slot, ensuring that adjacent connectors rotate relative to each other around the rotation axis located outside the hinge and inside the flexible display panel.