Some users have complained that the iPhone 7 is too similar to its predecessor. However, based on a new patent, Apple may launch an interesting iPhone in the future. The US Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent to the Cupertino tech giant on Tuesday for a foldable and bendable iPhone.
According to Patently Apple, the design has been on the company's books for quite a while since Apple applied for the patent named "Electronic devices with carbon nanotube printed circuits" in 2014. However, even if a folding iPhone sounds fun, it is still unknown whether this will come to fruition soon.
The new patent was granted after the company registered for it in August. Apple was reportedly able to keep the filing process a secret because it used a company engineer's name.
The final patent is under the iPhone name, illustrating different layouts of the iPhone's present structure. The new patent gave details on the materials that could be used for the future iPhone's housing. Its framework could be made of ceramic, aluminum, plastic or glass. These materials are being used to design the current iPhone model. However, the highlight of the patent is the use of carbon nanotubes which will allow the iPhone to be folded.
Rival company Samsung has been granted a patent for contact lens augmented-reality displays, but the technology has not been used. The South Korean company has also patented a couple of foldable phone designs as well, but it has not come up with a phone using such technology.