Apple does something unusual with its competitors.

To address the challenge of achieving the ideal thinness and screen fold for the future iPhone Fold, Apple is reportedly purchasing foldable smartphone prototypes from Chinese competitors for research purposes.

Apple's foldable phone model will inherit the best features from its Chinese competitors. Photo: WCCFtech .

For years, Apple has remained silent about the booming wave of foldable smartphones. However, behind the scenes, the tech giant is frantically preparing for an attack on this segment. According to the latest leaks from its supply chain, Apple has taken a very practical step: acquiring and dissecting competitors' foldable devices to study their technical standards.

Specifically, a source from leaker Fixed-focus digital on the social media platform Weibo revealed that Apple has been paying particular attention to the latest generation of foldable smartphones from China. Among them, the OPPO Find N5 is reportedly a target for Apple engineers' research.

Apple chose this device based on two key factors: its thinness and the screen fold. The OPPO Find N5 achieves an astonishingly thin profile, measuring only about 4.2 mm when unfolded.

More importantly, this competitor's hinge technology results in a virtually seamless screen – one of the biggest hurdles Apple wants to overcome before launching the iPhone Fold. Apple considers the flatness of this device's screen to be the "gold standard" against which to compare the iPhone Fold prototypes being tested in Cupertino.

The latest reports indicate that although Apple has manufactured numerous prototypes, none have achieved the same level of smoothness for the internal display as the Find N5.

Studying competitors not only helps Apple improve durability but also reshapes the design of the iPhone Fold. According to leaks, Apple is working to optimize its thinness to ensure that when folded, the device still feels as comfortable to hold as a standard iPhone.

One notable detail is the change in security method. Due to the extremely thin bezels needed for the folding mechanism, Apple may abandon traditional Face ID on this model. Instead, the company is testing a solution that integrates the Touch ID fingerprint sensor directly into the power button on the side, similar to the iPad Air and other foldable smartphones currently on the market.

In terms of display, Apple is expected to use OLED panels with CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) technology from Samsung Display. This technology eliminates the traditional polarizing film, resulting in significantly thinner screens while improving brightness and saving power.

Despite the ongoing research, Apple fans need to be patient. Analysts suggest that Apple will not rush to release a product that is not yet perfected in terms of user experience.

Based on current progress, the most likely time for a foldable iPhone to launch is in the second half of 2026, possibly at the same time as the iPhone 18 generation.

Source: https://znews.vn/apple-lam-chuyen-la-voi-doi-thu-post1618534.html