Talk of a foldable iPhone began within a few years of the release of the first model. By 2014, Apple already had a patent on a folding phone design, so this isn’t a new idea by any means. However, as was clearly demonstrated by the first several failed attempts, the technology was not mature enough to enjoy the reliability that Apple generally demands from its products. This is not to say Apple is flawless. There have been significant issues with some of its products, but the iPhone has had a remarkably solid design over the years. The most serious complaint may be the so-called ‘bend-gate’ incidence where some found their iPhone 6 developed a curve when stuffed into tight jeans. This happened in 2014, the same year of the folding phone patent.