Filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the application titled “Wearable Electronic Device Having an Extendable Display” outlines a smartwatch with a screen that can expand when needed. As described by Apple, the display “can be folded to be compact, and… extended when increased screen size is desired.” Think of it as a Swiss Army knife for your wrist: small and portable most of the time, but ready to grow when you need more real estate.
The patent sketches show a hinged mechanism, with some versions featuring a second screen that flips out from the main display. Others suggest a sliding panel that adjusts to different angles. The goal? Flexibility for users. Apple notes that you might want a larger screen for “making phone/video calls, playing games, browsing the web,” but prefer a compact form “for day-to-day activities, outdoor activities, etc.” It’s a practical twist on the smartwatch, which has largely stuck to a fixed, small footprint since its debut in 2015.
More Than Just a Bigger Screen
What sets this apart from a standard Apple Watch isn’t just the size—it’s the potential. One illustration hints at dual cameras on the foldable display, opening the door to FaceTime calls or snapping photos directly from your wrist. Imagine flipping open your watch to video chat with a friend or check a map without squinting at a tiny screen. It’s a leap beyond the current Apple Watch Ultra 2, which maxes out at a 1.92-inch display, and could make the wearable a more standalone device.
Apple’s not stopping at visuals, either. The patent mentions integrating “sensors, lights, [and] cameras” into the extendable section, suggesting a device that’s as functional as it is futuristic. This aligns with Apple’s knack for packing advanced tech into small packages—think of the LiDAR scanner on the iPhone or the heart rate sensor on the Watch. A foldable version could amplify that approach, blending portability with power.
Why a Foldable Watch Makes Sense
The idea might sound wild, but it fits Apple’s playbook. The company rarely rushes into trends—foldable phones have been around since Samsung’s Galaxy Fold launched in 2019—but when it joins the party, it aims to stand out. A foldable Apple Watch sidesteps the crowded smartphone space, where Samsung and Huawei have already staked their claims, and instead carves a niche in wearables. It’s a lower-stakes sandbox to test foldable tech, too; a premium watch is less of a mass-market gamble than a $1,000 iPhone.
Cost is another factor. Folding phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can top $1,800, thanks to complex hinges and large screens. A foldable Apple Watch, even if pricier than the current $799 Ultra 2, might land in a more palatable range—especially if it doubles as a mini iPhone. Apple’s supply chain muscle, honed with partners like TSMC and LG, could keep production costs in check while ensuring durability, a weak spot for early foldables.
Will It Ever Hit Your Wrist?
Here’s the catch: Apple files hundreds of patents yearly, and most never see daylight. The foldable Watch idea has roots stretching back years—similar concepts popped up in patents from 2016—so it’s clearly been simmering. But patents are more about protecting ideas than promising products. A folding iPhone, rumored for 2026 or later, might take priority, given the smartphone’s dominance in Apple’s lineup.
Still, the timing feels right. Wearables are a growing slice of Apple’s pie—revenue hit $8.3 billion in Q4 2024, per Bloomberg—and the Apple Watch has evolved from a fitness tracker to a health powerhouse with ECG and blood oxygen monitoring. A foldable model could push it further, appealing to users who want more without lugging around a phone. If it launches, expect a premium price tag, likely north of $1,000, reflecting the tech and Apple’s brand cachet.
The Bigger Picture
Apple’s foldable Watch isn’t about chasing Samsung’s tail—it’s about rethinking what a smartwatch can be. While folding phones wrestle with creases and bulk, a smaller-scale device like this could nail the balance of form and function. It’s not hard to picture: a sleek, hinged screen that flips open for a quick call, then snaps shut for a run. If Apple pulls it off, it could do for wearables what the iPhone did for phones—arrive late, but change the game.
For now, it’s just a patent, a whisper of what might be. But with Apple’s track record, even a whisper can signal a storm brewing in Cupertino.
