It's been quite a while since we've heard anything big about a foldable iPhone, and now we might have a reason: the project is apparently on hold for the moment, as Apple can't find a foldable display it's happy with.
According to Fixed Focus Digital on Chinese social media site Weibo (via MacRumors), Apple has been busy researching and testing displays that fold in half, but has been unable to find one that meets the standard required for a foldable iPhone.
Samsung is believed to be one of the manufacturers that has supplied foldable screens to Apple, but for some reason it fails the tests. Samsung, of course, makes its own foldable phones, most recently the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5.
It's not immediately clear if Apple is unhappy with the display's aesthetics or durability, or both. What's more, while this tipster is a well-known tech vlogger, he hasn't previously offered any Apple leaks, so keep that in mind.
The waiting game
The large amount of rumors we've seen surrounding an iPhone Fold suggests that such a device must be in development somewhere at Apple, although whether it will ever see the light of day remains to be seen.
Apple has traditionally been happy to let companies like Samsung introduce new mobile technologies before adding them to its own phone, such as fingerprint sensors and wireless charging, and it looks like it will be no different with foldable screens.
Another possibility is that Apple will introduce a foldable iPad before a foldable iPhone, but there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding that device as well. It would definitely be larger, which could make it easier to develop a display that Apple is happy with.
Take a look at our Google Pixel Fold review to see what some of the benefits of foldable phones are, even if you have to pay a significant amount of money to get them. At least for a while, it looks like Apple won't be joining the group.
