[ad_1]
The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 is rumored to be a great update on the original, but it could have serious competition from Apple’s future foldable iPhones, thanks to Apple’s latest battery patent.
The patent is titled Flexible battery structure, and presents a number of potential designs for how Apple could make a flexible power cell, whether to fit a foldable device or to be installed in a fixed-screen product but in a smaller space.
As the patent says, batteries are normally a large and inflexible component, and bending them can be very dangerous under normal circumstances. Foldable phones today tend to use two smaller than average batteries mounted on either side of the flip. This allows the phone to flex normally and have a reasonable battery life at the expense of the extra internal space given to the dual battery arrangement.
Apple’s approach is to divide the battery into smaller sections and mount them on a flexible base. This would allow the entire structure to fold undamaged in one direction, perfect for today’s folding phone style we’ve seen on devices like the Samsung Galaxy FoldSamsung Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola Razr 2020
The patent also refers to a Previous Apple patent for a flexible display screen. In this version, the battery is compressed into the main case along with the other main components. The screen would be removed from this frame, aided by one or more cylindrical rollers. This is a completely different type of folding device from what we’ve seen before, but it would work excellently with this new battery design.
A foldable iPhone is probably years away, but the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 could be imminent. Expected to launch in August, the Fold 2 could have major updates, such as a new camera array borrowed from the Galaxy S20 Plus, larger displays inside and out with 120Hz refresh rates, and an S-Pen stylus for make the most of the large internal screen.
While we’re likely a long way from a foldable iPhone, we still have the iPhone 12 wait this year. This new range of premium iPhones will include three different sizes in four models, and the high-end Pro versions will likely receive 120Hz displays, 5G connectivity, a new Apple-designed CPU, and a new rear LiDAR depth detection camera.
