By: Nick Gambino
Something I couldn’t have predicted just a few years ago: the flip phone once again hitting shelves and becoming a popular choice amongst smartphone users.
Well, that’s exactly what’s happened with the foldable phone design. There’s the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, the Google Pixel Fold and yes, even the Motorola Razr is back with a brand-new design.
The only significant player missing from the lineup is Apple. The Information reported a few months back that the tech giant was working on two different foldable designs. Well, it looks like they’ve settled on one of those designs as the forthcoming foldable iPhone.
According to The Information, the foldable iPhone is being called the V68 by those working on it. Usually when a project gets a codename it means Apple is taking it seriously, moving it into the development stage of the process.
Reportedly, the V68 foldable iPhone will fold top-down. In other words, it won’t open like a book but more like a clamshell, similar to the Motorola Razr+ or the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.
They are trying to solve a couple main issues in this R&D phase. First – a major issue for a lot of foldables – they are trying to work out the crease. That little screen bump around the hinge is probably the biggest issue deterring prospective buyers.
Second, they are looking to make the iPhone Foldable as thin as possible. If you know the history of the iPhone, you know how obsessed Apple is with thinness. They are reportedly even eyeing a super-thin regular (non-foldable?) iPhone for 2025.
The V68 will likely be launched in 2026 as long as it passes all the benchmarks necessary to present it to the world. That’s assuming the world still cares about foldable phones by then.
Now all we need is for T-Mobile to bring back the Sidekick. Better yet, bring back the Nokia 9210 Communicator and in the commercial have Kelly Rowland send a text message via Microsoft Excel.
Until then, I just can’t take this whole flipping/foldable/sliding phone craze seriously.
