Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple is testing with an e-Ink Electronic Paper Display (EPD) that could be for a cover, or part of a folding screen.
E-ink is best known as the technology used by Amazon Kindle, but Apple has been researching its use since 2011, at least. Now Kuo says that the company is actually testing a color version.
Apple is testing E Ink's Electronic Paper Display (EPD) for future foldable device's cover screen & tablet-like applications. The color EPD has the potential to become a mainstream solution for foldable devices' must-have cover/second screen thanks to its excellent power-saving.
— (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 17, 2022
The claim that this EPD could be used as a cover because of its power-saving, suggest that the iPad might gain an always-on case. That could conceivably show basic status information such as the time and notifications, but Kuo expects unspecified "tablet-like applications."
A cover or second screen doesn't automatically have to be folding itself, it could mean that two halves of a folded screen might be separate displays. Apple has previously researched
using multiple e-Ink displays.
Kuo revived his long-dormant Twitter account in March, 2022. Since then, he has been tweeting reports and predictions and seemingly rather than issuing his previous investor notes.
Those notes were always clearer about Kuo's sources, inasmuch as they said whether it was based on supply chain information. His tweets are sometimes less clear, and many appear to be supposition based on his previous experience with Apple.
In this case, however, despite him not citing any sources, it appears he means it as a factual account of what is happening at Apple right now, rather than extrapolating what could be soon.
Ming-Chi Kuo has recently predicted that Apple will release an iPhone Fold in 2023, though he believes the display will be a QHD+ high resolution screen rather than e-Ink.
