Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has so far resisted the temptation of jumping into the foldable phones segment but it looks like we could one day see rollable iPhones from the company.
What Happened: Apple has filed a patent for a rollable iPhone with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent filing shows that the iPhone could be rolled up - quite literally like an ancient scroll and manuscript.
While foldable phones are a reality and Apple's rivals - including Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google and Samsung - have foldable phones that consumers can buy right now, Apple has stayed away from this segment. There are no credible leaks or rumors either about a foldable iPhone launching anytime soon.
A rollable iPhone would also require Apple to solve challenges associated with the durability of displays - a problem that Google, Samsung, and other companies with foldable phones have come to realize. Google's first attempt at this, the Pixel Fold, broke within a few hours of its launch, with users reporting dead displays with very little use.
Futuristic, But Distant: This rollable iPhone patent could just be a way for Apple to protect its idea and technology in some way, in case the company ends up making one in the future.
Modern smartphones are complex computers with a myriad of components. Before we see a rollable smartphone, companies will first have to come up with components that are similarly flexible, too.
With that said, rollable displays are not fictional - LG already has a rollable TV out there. However, smartphones are a lot more complex than TVs, given that they pack in components like the chipset, storage, camera modules, and battery, in a far smaller package than a TV.