Apple's Latest Patent Hints at A Rollable iPhone and Other Apple Devices

According to a recent patent filing, Apple may be developing a rollable or scrollable iPhone. According to Gizmochina, the tech giant has submitted a patent for a rollable or scrollable display device, hinting that its upcoming devices, including iPhones, iPads, televisions, desktop displays, and automobile dashboards, could include this technology. The US Patent & Trademark Office just made public the patent application, which expands on Apple's 2014 investigation into developing displays.

The Apple display is anticipated to be planar while it is unrolled

A device with a display that may alternate between a rolled-up state for storage and an unrolled state for viewing is the subject of the invention.

The display is anticipated to be "planar" while it is "unrolled," but it is expected to "bend around an axis onto a roller for storage" when it is "rolled."

According to the article, the display might contain a pixel array for producing images and a transparent protective layer, including a layer of locally thinned glass to facilitate bending. The protective layer's exterior surface might come into contact with something that could scratch it. The inward-facing surface, however, is anticipated to be protected and likely to have less surface imperfections.

 Is Apple developing a folding MacBook?

There are reports that Apple is developing a folding MacBook that will debut in 2026, even if rollable screen devices are still a way off. The tech giant revealed that it was developing a new technology that would allow iPhones and iPads with flexible screens to sense drops and automatically fold up on the way to the ground to minimise damage in a patent application titled "Self-Retracting Display Device And Techniques For Protecting Screen Using Drop Detection" in March. The Apple company claims that instead of a potentially brittle hinge, the display would be able to detach or fold in a way that safeguards the screen.

Conclusion

Several businesses, including LG, OPPO, and Motorola, have aggressively investigated the rollable market. LG has created many buyable rollable TVs and has hinted that a rollable phone is in the works. Even while LG's rollable phone was never commercially successful, a video leak shows that the prototype device, which had a motorised screen extension, was actual.

The Moto Rizr, a rollable prototype phone from Motorola, was on display at Mobile World Congress. The device has a 5-inch display that can be expanded to 6.5 inches and automatically adjusts to apps for a more immersive experience. The phone has yet to be released to the general public and is only a concept. A few months ago, Xiaomi also received a patent for smartphones with rollable displays.