Apple has reportedly created prototypes for a clamshell foldable iPhone that fold horizontally, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip series, but they are not part of Apple's mass production plans for 2024 or 2025. The company is also working on a foldable iPad, but neither device is expected to be released before 2026 or 2027. Apple is interested in making foldable iPhones with displays on the outside, but engineers are facing design challenges. The company is looking to replicate Samsung's success with clamshell foldables and capitalize on the market, but it still needs to establish a supply chain and overcome engineering hurdles before launching a foldable iPhone.
Google launched its first foldable phone, the Pixel Fold, at its I/O conference on May 10, but some critics argue that the company should have launched a Pixel Flip instead or alongside it. Clamshell foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series are more popular and cheaper than larger foldables like the Z Fold series. While the Pixel Fold lets Google show off what a larger folding phone can do, a Pixel Flip would be more broadly appealing to the masses and could help Google grab more of the enterprise market. Google has not confirmed plans for a Pixel Flip, but a recent leak revealed a clamshell foldable set for 2025.
The Oppo Find N2 Flip's cover screen is limited to a few utilities, but now developers have found a way to run full Android apps on it through CoverScreen OS, which debuted on the Galaxy Z Flip series. The app is still in-progress and considered experimental, but it allows for any widget to be used on the Flip's outer display, making the device much more usable.
