Apple Locks September 9 Date for First Foldable iPhone Debut

It has finally been confirmed by Apple that the keynote for September 9 th will be the next big product announcement, and the stakes are higher than ever. Many believe that during the presentation, Apple will unveil its first foldable iPhone, rounding the circle on a long-touted device. The invite sent to press has the catchline “Surprise and shine”, which sounds oddly intentional for a product segment Apple has never been involved in before. This time the sale of the foldable iPhone is set to coincide exactly with Apple’s traditional fall hardware announcement.

These days this event has been dedicated to showing off new iPhone models, upgrades to Apple Watch, and in some cases new versions of their AirPods. Now, with the presence of a foldable at the event, it becomes a lot more significant. It indicates that Apple feels the new technology is ready to be deployed into their devices with high reliability and great user experience.

Foldable phones have been around for years, but Apple has always taken its own path. Apple has historically been content to wait until it can do something better than anyone else before announcing it. Leading up to the event a number of reports cited significant work on the hinge, crease reduction, and the internals of the batter pack. The announcement today indicates Apple felt they had time to perfect the implementation.

Adding to the intrigue is new CEO, John Ternus leading the event. Ternus is another long-time, close-to-hardware engineer who was a major part of the foldable project. Ternus’s keynote will be held under in particular close scrutiny, not only about the products he introduces but also about any early indication of how he might steer Apple forward.

Same here, it’s expected that the foldable will complement the regular iPhone range, not take over it. Apple has added new features and new devices gradually and deliberately to give users clearly differents choices. A foldable device offer a larger screen for working, a larger surface for reading and creating, but will fold into a smaller pocket or bag-sized form. How Apple balances fold and girth will determine the device’s position.

The display technology will still be one of the biggest challenge of any foldable. Apple will almost Yes focus on a more seamless crease, and on a brighter screen than other previous competitors. The software will be as well one of the important issue to deal with.

iOS will require feature planning to match the larger inner screen without creating previous user unfriendly workarounds. Enhancements like optimized Split View, better continuity of apps between the cover display and main panel, or reconfigured keyboard layouts should attract attention at the show. Pricing will be a further concern. Foldable phones have always commanded a high price, and it’s likely Apple’s will too. Apple will need to persuade buyers that the premium price pays for a quite a bit enhanced experience over a vanilla iPhone or iPad. Durability in the real world will come under enormous pressure once the device hits the hands of reviewers and early adopters.