Apple patent hints at flexible displays for future iPhones

Apple might be planning a new smartphone with a flexible display following the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, according to a recent patent filing, which was revealed earlier this week.

Patently Apple was the first to discover the recent patent, which describes a ‘mini flexible edge display’, which would sit on the side of the device and could be used for shortcuts or camera controls.

The iPhone’s physical buttons, like the volume and mute buttons, would be replaced by the second mini display. Users would be able to configure this from within the settings application.

If this is Apple’s plan then it will be taking a different approach to Samsung, which uses one display curved at the edges. Instead Apple will have a separate display entirely attached to the side of the device.

Take all of this with a grain of salt though; Apple has a tendency to focus on design and making its devices as thin as possible. The iPhone 6 for example does not have enough room along the edge for a secondary display. The iPads are also too thin for such a feature.

KitGuru Says: I doubt Apple will want to make a device thick enough for a display running along the edge. However, it is interesting to see the company experimenting.

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