Forget the iPhone 15 - new smartphone from Apple will worry its Android rivals

19 July 2023 , 06:29

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Apple WWDC 2023 (Image: Apple)

If Apple follows its usual launch cycle then a shiny new iPhone 15 range should be shown to the world this September. It's bound to feature a faster processor, better camera and we're expecting it to ditch the Lightning port in favour of USB-C charging instead.

It will be an exciting time for Apple addicts but something even more thrilling could be in the pipeline. A new patent, spotted by the team at Patently Apple, has recently been filed which suggests the US tech firm could be working on a number of devices that roll up like a piece of paper.

Of course, the big advantage of this technology is that it would make it far easier to pop a giant tablet-style screen in your pocket.

The patent describes the technology as "electronic devices with rollable displays that may be moved between an unrolled state in which the display is planar and a rolled state in which a rollable portion of the display is rolled up for storage".

A rollable or bendy phone from Apple would surely be popular and it could give its Android rivals a real headache.

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Motorola already make a rollable phone (REACH PLC)

A number of manufacturers, including Samsung, Motorola and Honor, already produce handsets with flexible screens and they currently have no competition from Apple and its popular iPhone.

If the patent turns out to be a reality, then that could all change in the future. Of course, Apple files lots of patents each year with many never seeing the light of day but with foldable becoming more and more popular an bendy iPhone would make sense.

It's worth noting that Motorola has already designed a rollable phone which was recently shown to the world at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

This device uses a fully flexible display to increase the screen size at the touch of a button. LG also already makes a telly that rolls up into a small box which sits underneath the display.

Whilst Samsung isn't going rollable, the firm is expected to announce the releases of its new Flip and Fold phones at an event next week, July 26.

These devices could get improved cameras, bigger displays and faster processors tucked inside.

Mirror Online will bring you all the news live from this Unpacked event so watch this space.

Dave Snelling