Kuaikeji, September 11 news—According to recent insights from Mark Gurman, it was the influence of Huawei and Samsung’s foldable screens that ultimately led Cook to decide on Apple’s strategic direction towards developing foldable smartphones.

Mark Gurman disclosed that Apple had been discreetly conducting internal R&D on foldable screen technology, with the project gaining significant momentum around 2020.

During that period, after Cook completed his Asian tour and observed a substantial number of consumers in markets such as China using Huawei and Samsung foldable phones, he promptly recognized the necessity for Apple to venture into the foldable market. Upon his return, he swiftly pushed for the acceleration of the project.

However, even before Cook formally approved the project, the Apple team had been covertly researching and developing relevant technologies for several years. Public records indicate that Apple filed patents for foldable-related technologies as early as 2016.

Furthermore, insiders revealed that well before Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Fold in 2019, which brought foldable screens into the mainstream market, Apple’s core hardware team was already engaged in the development of foldable screens, hinges, and the overall device structure.

At 1 AM Beijing time on September 10, Apple hosted its autumn launch event, titled “A New Chapter Shines Brightly,” at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park. After years of preparation, Apple finally unveiled its first foldable smartphone.

According to official details, the storage options available include 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB, with prices in the Chinese market starting at 15,999 yuan. Pre-sales are set to commence on October 16, with general sales beginning on October 23.