Apple could be the last major phone manufacturer to bring two key features to the marketplace

Next month, Samsung will release the Samsung Galaxy Fold, and the foldable Huawei Mate X will arrive this summer. We also expect to see foldables arrive this year from some other firms as well, with the Motorola RAZR foldable garnering plenty of attention. Other Android manufacturers like Oppo and TCL have thrown their hats into the ring, increasing pressure on Apple to deliver a foldable iPhone.

Back in December, Korean research firm CGS-CIMB said that Apple will be the last of the major phone manufacturers to release a foldable phone; a timeline created by the research firm suggests that this device will be unveiled in late 2020. Now, Digitimes cites industry sources who are telling them that Samsung Display has sent Apple and Google samples of a flexible 7.2-inch panel. This is a tenth of an inch smaller than the 7.3-inch panel that is employed on the Galaxy Fold.

While we haven't heard a peep about a foldable Pixel, we certainly have seen patents related to a foldable iPhone. There are indications that Apple's entry in the foldable phone sweepstakes will fold vertically, like the upcoming Motorola RAZR is expected to.

Apple could also be one of the last major phone manufacturers to launch a 5G phone. While many of its Android producing rivals, including Samsung, Huawei, LG, Motorola and Oppo will have phones supporting the next-generation wireless connectivity in the marketplace this year, the first 5G iPhone most likely won't launch until next year.