As Apple continues to develop its highly anticipated foldable iPhone, a newly discovered patent application reveals the company’s innovative approach to enhance the device’s durability against falls. In this article, we explore the potential features of the future foldable iPhone, with a focus on its automatic shut feature designed to protect the device from damage during falls.

Apple’s Foldable iPhone Features Advanced Fall Detection and Protection

The patent application, titled “Self-Retracting Display Device And Techniques For Protecting Screen Using Drop Detection,” is publicly accessible on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. It describes a system that employs a sensor, such as an accelerometer, to detect when the iPhone is falling. Upon detecting a fall, the sensor activates an “electronically adjustable latching mechanism” to rapidly snap the phone shut, shielding it from damage.

The patent states that even if the mechanism does not fully close due to the device’s proximity to the ground, partially folding the display to an angle less than 180 degrees can still offer some protection. In such cases, the impact would affect the sides of the phone rather than the screen.

In addition to fall protection, the patent application delves into the hinge design for the foldable iPhone. Instead of employing a traditional hinge at the center, the device could feature two distinct screens that connect when the phone is unfolded. When closed, the top screen detaches from the bottom screen, further enhancing protection.

While the patent details the potential capabilities of the foldable iPhone, such as incorporating accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, and other components to detect motion, it does not explicitly mention any specific technology. Apple’s primary concern is ensuring that the internal mechanisms can identify when the falling speed surpasses a predetermined threshold, triggering the automatic shut feature.

Release date: Uncertain timeline

Rumors surrounding a foldable iPhone have circulated for approximately three years, with various prototypes and designs leaked over that period. However, the most recent leaks suggest that the iPhone Fold may not hit the market until 2025.

Apple’s foldable iPhone could potentially incorporate an automatic shut feature designed to prevent damage from falls. By using a sensor to detect falls and a latching mechanism to quickly snap the phone shut, the device may offer enhanced durability. The innovative hinge design, comprising two separate screens that connect when unfolded, further contributes to the device’s protection. Despite these promising features, the release date for the iPhone Fold remains uncertain.