iPhone Flip just got one step closer to reality — here's the proof

iPhone Flip but got ane footstep closer to reality — here's the proof

(Image credit: #iOS beta news)

The futuristic iPhone Flip seems closer than ever thanks to this latest Apple foldable telephone leak.

Economical Daily News, citing sources in Apple's supply chain, claims that sample iPhone Flip devices are currently undergoing testing with Apple tree manufacturer Foxconn in Taiwan.

iPhone Flip: Everything we know about Apple tree'southward foldable phone
The all-time iPhone Black Friday deals
Just in: Mac mini M1 benchmarks revealed — and they crush Intel

The tests reportedly include a focus on the display and bearings within the phone, with a goal of opening and closing the iPhone Flip 100,000 times. That's over iii times more than comparable tests for laptop hinges, which is to be expected given how much more frequently a user is likely to open up up their telephone compared to their laptop.

Foldable phones are much more fragile than the standard smartphone, and making certain that the flexible portion of the brandish volition work reliably through the phone's life is crucial. Apple would never want to end upwards with a mechanical mess similar Samsung faced with the original Samsung Galaxy Fold, subsequently all. Early review samples of Samsung'southward starting time foldable phone suffered from screen damage, with dirt and debris getting under the display.

Coincidentally, Samsung is reportedly involved in this testing procedure since it is reportedly manufacturing the display for the iPhone Flip. Samsung makes a lot of displays for other smartphone companies, and so this isn't surprising. Meanwhile, component manufacturers New Nikko and Japan Nihon are reportedly responsible for making the bearings that volition help the hinges piece of work smoothly.

Other reports claim this foldable will utilise either an OLED or mini LED display, either of which would make sense. Apple currently uses OLED on the iPhone 12 series, just mini LED is believed to be coming to the next generation of iPad Pro and other devices next year. Since the ii displays require different parts and processes to make, Apple volition presumably select whichever display type performs amend on the tests.

Since the telephone'due south nevertheless in testing, and is Apple tree's get-go try at a foldable, we yet have some time to await before it launches. Current estimates reckon nosotros'll run across it at the latest in September 2022, long afterwards side by side year's iPhone xiii. We could even see information technology launch alongside what volition presumably exist the iPhone xiv.

Richard is a Tom's Guide staff writer based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, gaming, sound and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the Academy of Sheffield, he'southward also written for WIRED U.G., The Annals and Artistic Bloq. When not at piece of work, he's probable thinking near how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.