TECH NEWS – Apple’s first foldable iPhone has not even been announced yet, but a new leak claims that the company may already be developing its successor. The iPhone Fold 2 could reportedly feature a wider folding display, while a major advance in panel technology may not be part of the plan.
The hinge problems that reportedly plagued Apple’s iPhone Fold for a long time appear to have been addressed, allowing the company’s first foldable flagship to enter production. However, the upcoming launch may not be a one-off event, as a successor is said to be in development already and could arrive with one significant difference.
iPhone Fold 2 Is Rumored to Feature a Wider Folding Display, but Do Not Expect a More Advanced Panel
According to the latest information shared by Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station, the iPhone Fold 2 could feature a wider folding screen. That would provide more display space within its passport-style form factor. Since the first-generation iPhone Fold has not been announced yet, Apple is likely testing several different prototypes before settling on the design that will eventually enter mass production.
While users can certainly benefit from a wider display, the rumor claims that panel technology itself will remain unchanged. Based on the machine-translated text, Apple will likely use the same primary M16 OLED panel and M14 inner display in the iPhone Fold 2, allowing the company to reduce component costs. Since the M16 is the most advanced display of the current generation, consumers may not mind if Apple uses it again next year, especially if the company is also trying to offset the effects of the DRAM crisis.
Estimates place 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM at around $145, while 256GB of NAND flash storage could add another $51, meaning those two components alone account for nearly $200. It therefore makes complete sense for Apple to look for cost reductions in certain areas. After all, which iPhone Fold owner would go through the trouble of calibrating the display just to find out which generation of panel is running inside? We certainly would not. Alongside the iPhone Fold 2 rumor, Digital Chat Station also shared a potentially grim outlook for the future of the iPhone Air lineup.
Is the iPhone Air 3 in Trouble?
According to the latest claim, Apple could be done with the iPhone Air series if the succeeding model does not sell according to expectations. The two notable changes expected for the iPhone Air 2 include a dual-camera system and improved battery life. However, Apple may use the standard A20 rather than the A20 Pro, which could be a deal-breaker for customers willing to pay a premium for the sleek flagship.
Given the iPhone Air’s less-than-stellar reception so far, it seems doubtful that Apple will continue the series beyond the second iteration, and the company may instead revive the Plus variants, which could offer substantially better value for the money.
Source: Digital Chat Station
