Apple is said to be collaborating with LG on new foldable iPad and MacBook models with flexible OLED displays. LG is already gearing up to supply similar displays to HP for a foldable laptop scheduled to launch this year.
The report corroborates earlier claims from one display analyst, who claims Apple is exploring foldable/rollable display technologies for future devices. It warned, however, that a foldable iPhone won’t come until 2025 at the earliest.
Apple tasks LG with building foldable screens
LG is “collaborating with Apple to develop another foldable OLED panel,” reports Korean website The Elec, citing supply chain sources. “The panel is being designed for tablets and notebooks.”
It is believed Apple’s display will use ultra-thin glass on its surface, rather than the polyamide cover most foldable displays are using today. This could help make it less prone to scratches than Samsung’s Flip and Fold handsets.
LG already familiar with folding displays
LG is already familiar with building foldable screens. In 2020, it supplied displays for Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold — the world’s first folding tablet/laptop.
LG is also said to be producing foldable OLED panels for an upcoming HP notebook. Those panels, which have a 4K resolution, will measure 17 inches when open and just 11 inches when closed, The Elec said. However, it’s not year clear how exactly HP’s device will work.
Apple exploring flexible devices
It’s no surprise Apple is at least exploring foldable devices, given the success of Samsung’s newest Flip and Fold models — and the fact that many other manufacturers are rushing to produce foldables of their own.
However, it’s likely to be years before we get a folding Apple product of any kind. Unlike Samsung and others, Cupertino will undoubtedly wait for the technology, which still comes with teething troubles for now, to mature.
Back in February, DSCC analyst Ross Young, who has proven incredibly reliable in the past, also reported Apple’s interest in foldable screens for MacBook. He warned, however, that a foldable iPhone won’t launch before 2025.
