Forget Foldable iPhone, Apple Has Filed A Patent For A Rollable iPhone

Apple Inc. AAPL has so far resisted the temptation of jumping into the foldable phones segment but it looks like we could one day see rollable iPhones from the company.

What Happened: Apple has filed a patent for a rollable iPhone with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent filing shows that the iPhone could be rolled up – quite literally like an ancient scroll and manuscript.

While foldable phones are a reality and Apple's rivals – including Alphabet Inc.'s GOOGL Google and Samsung – have foldable phones that consumers can buy right now, Apple has stayed away from this segment. There are no credible leaks or rumors either about a foldable iPhone launching anytime soon.

A rollable iPhone would also require Apple to solve challenges associated with the durability of displays – a problem that Google, Samsung, and other companies with foldable phones have come to realize. Google's first attempt at this, the Pixel Fold, broke within a few hours of its launch, with users reporting dead displays with very little use.

Futuristic, But Distant: This rollable iPhone patent could just be a way for Apple to protect its idea and technology in some way, in case the company ends up making one in the future.

Modern smartphones are complex computers with a myriad of components. Before we see a rollable smartphone, companies will first have to come up with components that are similarly flexible, too.

With that said, rollable displays are not fictional – LG already has a rollable TV out there. However, smartphones are a lot more complex than TVs, given that they pack in components like the chipset, storage, camera modules, and battery, in a far smaller package than a TV.

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