Apple is said to have resolved the fold – the biggest drawback of folding screen smartphones and is preparing for mass production with an expected price of 2,400 USD.
Page Apple Insider citing sources from the supply chain that Apple is accelerating the process of launching the first folding smartphone model, possibly called iPhone Fold. Meanwhile, according to UDNApple achieved an important breakthrough when solving a technical problem, helping the iPhone Fold become the first device with a fold-free screen, significantly improving the user experience. Current folding phone models often have creases in the middle after a period of use, which can even lead to cracked or broken screens.
iPhone Fold idea. Image: Apple Insider
The internal folding screen is provided by Samsung, but Apple is said to have designed the panel structure, material processing and panel pressing method itself. In addition, the company also worked with two suppliers Shin Zu Shing and Amphenol to create highly durable hinges, manufactured from liquid metal to minimize deformation.
The source also said that Foxconn has set up a separate production line for the iPhone Fold, showing that the device has moved from the prototyping stage to technical verification and is getting closer to mass production.
Theo 9to5Mac, The folding iPhone will have a 7.5-inch main screen and a 5.5-inch external screen. The device measures 4.8 mm when opened, thinner than the iPhone Air, and about 9 mm when folded. The latest forecast from supply chain analysts shows that the iPhone Fold has a very high price. Based on the cost of core components, such as the foldless folding screen and complex hinge system, the device can be sold at 2,400 USD (58.5 million VND), as expensive as the 16-inch MacBook Pro and much higher than competitors such as Samsung Galaxy Z Fold (1,700 USD), Google Pixel Fold (1,800 USD).
Apple’s entry into the folding phone segment, expected in 2026, is expected to create a boost in the context of the smartphone market showing signs of saturation and the user upgrade cycle being prolonged. Despite the high price, iPhone Fold can still achieve sales of 5.4 million devices next year, mainly thanks to the pioneering user group, high-end customers.
Apple is famous for its strategy of not rushing to launch products with new technology until they are truly perfect. If the iPhone Fold no longer has folds, this will be a major competitive advantage, allowing the company to reshape price and quality expectations in the high-end smartphone segment.