Rumors that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone (iPhone Flip) have been circulating for several months, and the company appears to be ramping up its in-house experimentation. According to a new leak posted on the Chinese social network Weibo, Apple has ordered a "large quantity" of foldable screens from Samsung.

It would be extremely optimistic to imagine that we will see something foldable at this week's Apple event, as these foldable displays are reportedly samples for some prototype designs rather than the company's full-scale production. In fact, there is no guarantee anywhere that the company will complete a prototype that it considers suitable for mass production.

In any case, this is a big deal for those who expect Apple to follow in Samsung's footsteps and throw its full weight behind a foldable device. Of course, Samsung has two foldable designs: the Galaxy Z Fold 2, which opens in the Y-axis to become a large tablet, and the Galaxy Z Flip, which opens in the X-axis to become a regular-sized phone; a 360-degree hinge Galaxy Z Fold S is also rumored. So what route will Apple take?

We don't really know. Several optimistic concept artists have come up with iPhone Flip designs, but the only real evidence we have comes from prolific Apple leaker Jon Prosser, who said in June that the current prototype is "not really foldable."

"The current prototype has two separate display panels on a hinge," he tweeted." Rounded stainless steel edges like the current iPhone 11 design. No notch - a small forehead on the outer display that houses Face ID."

You might imagine something like the Microsoft Surface Duo at this point, but Prosser says that even in the prototype stage, Apple has something a bit more sophisticated in mind.

"The memes are interesting," he continued, "but they don't look like just two phones attached together."

"Even though they are two separate panels, when the display is extended it looks quite continuous and seamless.

It doesn't sound like something that would require a foldable Samsung display order though, so perhaps Apple is refining the design. Or perhaps there are many concepts Apple is working on.

Digging into Apple's patent archives reveals a host of possible options, from book-style designs to clamshells to deployable scrolls. Which, if any, will be the first to fall into Tim Cook's hands?

Which one, if any, will ultimately appear, and whether we'll see it this year or not, remains to be seen. That is if Prosser's sources are correct.