Foldable iPhone just tipped to feature color e-ink display

iPhone Flip foldable iPhone
(Image credit: #iOS Beta News/YouTube)

Update: The latest patents for Apple indicate a foldable iPhone — or iPad — is in the works.

The elusive iPhone Flip may end up using some similar tech to the humble Amazon Kindle according to a teasing tweet from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

As Kuo writes, Apple's been trying out a color electronic paper display (EPD) for the cover screen of foldable iPhones and also for future iPad tablets. That's no guarantee we'll actually get this on future folding Apple gear, nor is there any word on what Kuo's basing this assertion on, but using e-ink on a foldable is certainly an interesting idea.

An e-ink screen is quite different from the high refresh rate and high-resolution displays that current foldables use. The benefit would be far superior battery life. Just consider how long the best Kindles, which uses the same technology, can last on a single charge.

A regular e-ink display would be slow and unattractive to look at, even if it did use full color rather than just black and white. However, it could make sense if Apple intended to make the outer display a limited size panel like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. The e-ink screen could be used for notifications, static widgets and so on, leaving a regular foldable inner display as the main way to operate the phone.

Even though Apple has been quiet about any foldable projects, patents for its work have been found semi-regularly. The latest aside from the foldable iPhone are for a 20-inch foldable MacBook that utilizes an on-screen keyboard.

The first foldable iPhone is currently pegged for a reveal sometime between next year and 2025. If Apple's still experimenting with different display types for the foldable iPhone, then perhaps we should prepare to wait.

Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.

Read more
iPhone Flip render
iPhone Flip could solve one of the biggest problems with foldable phones — here's how
iPhone Flip Concept
Apple's iPhone Flip may have just gotten one step closer to reality
Foldable iPhone concept image
Foldable iPhone leaker just tipped size of both displays
iPhone Flip Concept
iPhone Flip now reportedly in 'planning stage' — here's what we know
iPhone Flip foldable iPhone
iPhone Flip: Everything we know about Apple's foldable phone plans
iPhone Flip Concept
Foldable iPhone and foldable iPad both just tipped for production next year
Latest in iPhones
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — new survey could be bad news for Apple's super thin iPhone
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Siri in iOS 18 on iPhone
Users complain that Siri can’t answer even the most basic questions — here’s what we know
iPhone 16 next to samsung galaxy watch 7 and bose wireless earbuds on a composite image
Apple's walled garden is crumbling — EU orders iOS to open up to third-party devices
Apple iPhone 16 & 16 Plus hands-on.
Forget USB-C — a truly portless iPhone just got the all-clear from the EU
iPhone Flip render
iPhone Flip could solve one of the biggest problems with foldable phones — here's how
Latest in News
A magnifying glass on top of the Steam logo in a web browser
Valve just pulled a malicious game demo spreading info-stealing malware from Steam
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari looks on during Sprint Qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Song Haiyuan/Paddocker/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
How to watch Chinese Grand Prix 2025 online – stream F1 without cable, qualifying highlights
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Saturday, March 22 (#650)
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 — 7 biggest questions that need answers at Nintendo Direct April 2
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — new survey could be bad news for Apple's super thin iPhone
Segway g30lp
Segway recalls 220,000 electric scooters - what to do if yours is on the list