<p><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5f590754e6ff30001d4e7c8b-2400/GettyImages-1035708860.jpg" border="0" alt="Tim Cook" data-mce-source="Karl Mondon/Digital First Media/The Mercury News via Getty Images"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Apple has begun internal testing on foldable screen prototypes for iPhones, but hasn't yet decided whether to move forward with such a model, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-15/apple-considers-foldable-iphone-minor-changes-planned-for-2021-models">Bloomberg</a> reported. </p><p>The company has been testing the screen prototypes, rather than a full iPhone model, according to the report.</p><p>It's unlikely a foldable phone would be included in its 2021 lineup, which is expected to focus on incremental upgrades to the 5G models released last year, according to Bloomberg.</p><p>The company's 2021 models may include fingerprint-scanning Touch ID in their displays, according to the report. That technology had been removed in favor of facial recognition in recent models. </p><p>With a foldable iPhone model, Apple would join a growing list of competitors with similar phones. Samsung, which has several foldable models, announced its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-2-foldable-phone-launch-unpacked-event-2020-8">Galaxy Z Fold 2</a> in August 2020. LG last week showed off its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lg-rollable-phone-screen-expands-video-ces-2021-2021-1">rollable phone</a> prototype, the LG Rollable, in a CES video.</p><p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5f2acff34e52b7015761ce79-1814/galaxy z fold 2.png" border="0" alt="Galaxy Z Fold 2" data-mce-source="Samsung"></p><p>Apple in recent years filed for several patents for foldable smartphone designs. Last year, the company was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-foldable-iphone-screen-patent-hinge-design-creasing-2020-2">granted a patent</a> for foldable-smartphone hinges. Those hinges would sit under the screen. </p><p><strong><em>Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-cloud-hiring-spree-open-jobs-kubernetes-swift-docker-2021-1'r=ks-sub">Apple is on a cloud hiring spreehere are the key technologies it wants new employees to know</a></em></strong></p><p>Another Apple patent, "Foldable electronic device with exposed display region," included <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-fold-new-patent-foldable-phone-2020-7">illustrations</a> of folding phone screens. Those illustrations appeared to show an iPhone screen roughly the same shape as current iPhones, but with a horizontal hinge across its center, allowing it to fold in half. As the patent said, the "pair of side platforms are switched between a flattened state and a folded state."</p><p>Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2 is about 6.2-inches when folded in half. Prototypes for Apple's foldable screen were about the size of the biggest current iPhone model, 6.7-inches, when unfolded, according to Bloomberg. </p><p>In December, an Apple supplier in China <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-supplier-accused-of-using-forced-uighur-labor-iphone-screens-2020-12">was accused of using forced labor</a> from thousands of Uighur workers to make glass for iPhones. The same month, Apple put iPhone partner Wistron on probation after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-says-wistron-on-probation-after-riot-indian-iphone-plant-2020-12">rioting workers</a> caused $7 million worth of damage at a plant in India.</p><p>Apple is also reportedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apples-new-macbook-pro-brings-back-favorite-features-2021-1">removing the Touch Bar</a> from its MacBook Pro this year. </p><p>An Apple spokesperson did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-is-reportedly-testing-foldable-iphone-screens-2021-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-travel-during-coronavirus-outbreak-planes-airports-virus-2020-3">Here's what it's like to travel during the coronavirus outbreak</a></p>
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