Foldable Apple iPhone: Analyst doubles down on 2023 launch, Samsung may provide OLED screen

Kuo added that Apple plans to continue working with Samsung for the supply of foldable OLED displays for the iPhone.

Samsung Galaxy Fold Z 2. (Unsplash)

A lot has been talked about the foldable iPhone, the features and who all will be the suppliers for the particular device. Analysts and tipsters have also speculated the launch time frame as well. Noted Apple analyst, Ming Chi Kuo earlier this year predicted the firm to bring its new iPhone sometime in 2023. In his latest investor's note, Kuo has doubled down on the claim and has added that the Cupertino-based tech firm will sell some 20 million units in that year.

Kuo that (via 9to5Mac) Apple plans to continue working with Samsung for the supply of foldable OLED displays for the iPhone. This is a slightly different claim from what was reported by Digitimes in February. The report stated that LG might be the one that will make the foldable display for Apple's rumoured iPhone.

In his previous note, Kuo mentioned the foldable iPhone to feature a screen size of around 7.5-inch or 8-inch. And in the latest note, he reassures Apple to use an 8-inch screen size. Apple is also expected to have a strong “cross-product ecosystem.”

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“At present, the product position of foldable smartphones is mainly to integrate the smartphone and tablet. But we believe that the foldable smartphone is only one of the applications of the foldable design. We predict that foldable devices will blur the product segmentations between smartphones, tablets, and laptops in the future. With its cross-product ecosystems and hardware design advantages, Apple will be the biggest winner in the new foldable device trend,” Kuo stated.

However, the plan to launch a foldable iPhone by 2023 can obviously change based on how much progress Apple makes and how satisfied it is with the device.

According to tipster Jon Prosser, Apple was testing two folding designs for the iPhone. While one was book-shape design, the other was a clamshell design. The testing was supposedly being done for the hinge and not specifically for the overall product.