"A horizontally folding Galaxy Z Flip?" Leaked mock-up of Apple's "iPhone Fold" [Daily IT Pick]

[The Financial News] Apple Inc. is expected to enter the foldable smartphone market this September. Alongside the launch of the new iPhone 18 series, the company is likely to unveil a foldable model, setting the stage for a full-scale foldable smartphone battle with Samsung Electronics. According to The Verge and other major foreign media outlets on the 14th, there were reports last week that the launch of a foldable iPhone could be delayed until 2027 due to manufacturing and testing issues, but more recent reports suggesting a September debut are gaining traction.
IT tipster Sonny Dickson posted photos of dummy models of the iPhone 18 Pro series and a foldable iPhone on his X account. It is unclear whether these dummies reflect the final product, but if they are accurate, Apple Inc. appears to have benchmarked some aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip’s usability. The device folds and unfolds horizontally, so the folding direction differs from the clamshell-style Z Flip, but the overall look is similar. Once unfolded, it is expected to offer high convenience for immediately watching videos.
Industry observers expect the foldable iPhone to be priced at over 2,000 dollars (around 3 million won). As a latecomer to the segment, Apple Inc. is believed to have invested considerable effort in perfecting this foldable phone. Key points of interest include how much the display crease has been minimized and how the user interface has been designed to deliver a seamless user experience (UX) when the device is folded and unfolded.
According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung Electronics held the largest share of global foldable smartphone shipments last year with 40%, followed by Huawei with 30% and Motorola with 12%. However, if Apple Inc. launches a foldable phone this year, the market shares are projected to shift to Samsung Electronics at 31%, Apple Inc. at 28%, and Huawei at 23%. Counterpoint Research stated, "Apple’s entry into the market will be a turning point."
ksh@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Seong-hwan Reporter