Apple is reportedly testing an E Ink color display for its future foldable phone, as per an industry analyst. Apple's foldable phone has been rumored for years now, but there's been no concrete proof that it will launch anytime soon. While Apple tends to take its time with new technology – USB-C ports and punch-hole cameras are prime examples – its delay with foldable phones has given rivals like Samsung a chance to establish themselves in the foldables segment.
Samsung is now the market leader for foldable phones, with its Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold lineup close to reaching their fourth generation. Samsung's success with its current Flip 3 and Fold 3 have prompted it to pre-emptively increase supply for the new foldable phones that are expected to launch in August. Samsung has also showcased concepts of its future foldable products, which include tri-folding and slideable displays. Meanwhile, Apple appears to be mulling the use of an unusual display type for its foldable device.
In a tweet, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that Apple is testing E Ink's Color Electronic Paper Display for its upcoming foldable device. This type of display will reportedly be used for the cover screen and "tablet-like applications," thanks in part to its power-saving abilities. While E Ink displays have been used for years by Amazon's Kindles, the e-readers use black and white screens. E Ink already has color displays in its portfolio, with its most recent E Ink Gallery 3 color displays being announced in April. E Ink displays are known for their slower refresh times, but the new Gallery 3 color display can refresh as fast as 1,500 milliseconds. For reference, the first generation color display had an update time of 10 seconds. However, the technology is still a long way off from making its way to a phone.
Apple's Foldable Is Still Years Away
Apple's foldable phone was initially expected to be launched in 2024, but recent reports have revealed that it could be delayed to 2025 or even later. While this is still years away, it's plenty of time for E Ink's color displays to improve refresh times and resolution. E Ink's Gallery 3 color display also supports stylus pen input, which could result in Apple developing a specialized Apple Pencil for its foldable device. E Ink also has foldable and rollable prototypes of its Gallery 3 displays, which serve as further proof that they could be featured on an Apple foldable.
Apple is rumored to be working on multiple types of foldable displays. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noted that one of these devices is a dual-screen foldable MacBook/iPad. The device will reportedly unfold into a massive 20-inch screen that can be paired with a keyboard. When folded, the lower half of the display would be able to function as a touch-screen keyboard. Lenovo did launch something similar with its ThinkPad X1 Fold, but the technology is far from mainstream. While Apple is clearly taking its time with foldables, its biggest advantage is ready-made software in the form of iPadOS, which is optimized for large-screen devices.
Source: Ming-Chi Kuo/Twitter, Business Wire