While we are still eagerly awaiting Apple’s first foldable iPhone, some YouTube modders have decided to take things into their own hands. The Aesthetics of Science and Technology (AST), a Chinese-based engineering channel, have created a foldable iPhone with working iOS software. The engineers created the foldable iPhone with spare Motorola RAZR parts, some 3D-printed elements and an iPhone X screen.
Read: New Amazon Headquarters in Cape Town wins big
ATS replaced the non-foldable glass cover of the iPhone X screen and replaced the touch layers of the display. They also used an iOS jailbreak to let Apple’s software run on the handset and introduces modified software to take advantage of the folding display, like split-screen mode.
The result is rather pleasing – a mix between the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. While the folding iPhone appears to work as advertised, there’s a massive gap when it’s folded up. It also doesn’t have wireless charging, a much smaller battery than normal and just one speaker. As you would imagine, the design means you also lose water resistance and no guarantee of build quality.
Rumours have long suggested that Apple may introduce their firsts foldable phone as soon as 2023, which could have a passing resemblance to this hacked together prototype. That date is likely much further away, if Apple’s way of releasing into new segments remains consistent. The mod illustrates Apple’s challenges, at least. A proper foldable iPhone would require major engineering changes and software tweaks to meet users’ expectations. There are also problems that even brands like Motorola and Samsung have yet to overcome, such as displays that crease and crack.
Apple likes to take their time and do things right, and we hope that’s the same when it comes to their first foldable phone. Stay tuned as we explore their future products.
