Apple Eyes Foldable iPhone Pilot Production Line in Taiwan

[MacRumors]

Apple has been in discussions with suppliers in Taiwan about potentially building a test production hub in the country for its rumored foldable iPhone, reports Nikkei Asia.

According to the outlet's sources, Apple is interested in building a mini pilot line that would "verify the equipment and fine-tune the parameters and manufacturing steps" for making its foldable iPhone, which is expected to launch next year.

In another step toward manufacturing independence from China, Apple's long-term plan reportedly involves replicating the pilot line in India where it plans to mass produce the new flagship smartphone and ensure a smooth rollout. The initial proposal is seemingly not without its hurdles, however. From the report:

Apple suppliers have eyed a plot of land in a northern Taiwanese city for the mooted pilot line, two of the people said, but added that the plan is not yet finalized and subject to changes. They also pointed to existing challenges in Taiwan, such as the island's limited land and labor resources for iPhone production, even for a pilot line, which would need roughly a thousand operators, they said.

Apple has told several suppliers that it expects the introduction of a foldable model to spur demand for iPhones overall, including non-foldable ones. Nikkei's sources suggest Apple is aiming to produce about 95 million iPhones in its next lineup coming in 2026 – a 10% increase in total phone shipments from 2025 – and the company believes that introducing a long-awaited folding model would help achieve that goal.

Multiple sources have now confirmed that Apple is planning to release its first foldable ‌iPhone‌ in 2026, with the device coming as part of the iPhone 18 lineup. For example, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple plans to release a foldable iPhone next year, followed by a foldable iPad in 2028.

Kuo has outlined a book-style foldable iPhone with an approximately 7.8-inch inner display and 5.5-inch outer screen, priced between $2,000 and $2,500. Apple is expected to skip Face ID authentication and instead use Touch ID integrated into the side button to save internal space in the folded design. Apple has already used side button-integrated Touch ID for the iPad Air and iPad mini, so the design choice is not unprecedented.

Camera-wise, the foldable iPhone is expected to include a dual-lens rear camera, with a front-facing camera for both folded and unfolded states, according to Kuo.

• 2026 Foldable iPhone: All the Leaks So Far

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has also said he expects the device to be launched next year in the fall season.

Article Link: Apple Eyes Foldable iPhone Pilot Production Line in Taiwan

 

[crees!]

A foldable iPhone. Not gonna happen.

 

[contacos]

A foldable iPhone. Not gonna happen.

Oh it is.

Galaxy Fold 7 VS Fold 6

Western Europe sales first 4 weeks: + ~150% while the price also increased by yet another 200€, starting now at ~2,200€.

Apple wants a piece of this additional, even somewhat I'll admit small (so far) market

 

[jpf293]

Not having Face ID would be a huge mistake.

 

[Spongmincer]

A foldable iPhone. Not gonna happen.

Oh yes it is.

 

[Lioness~]

Foldable is too big for me, so if no flip, no Apple phone.
But my mini will still be good for me, for some time.

 

[nfl46]

Let's goooo!

I'll finally make my return back to the Apple ecosystem once they release their foldable phone. I love my Fold 7 but so ready for Apple to put their spin on foldables.

 

[andrewxgx]

A foldable iPhone. Not gonna happen.

of course its gonna happen
apple basically exhausted mainstream market and its looking for more and more specialized devices for (vision, watch ultra) for a little bit of growth apperance. same way you know they're going for touch macs.

 

[Oohara]

Betting it gets delayed, 2027 release at the very earliest.

 

[hoorayforhollywood]

I'm no production line logistics expert but if they've just identified land for a pilot production factory this ain't launching next year.

 

[cardfan]

I'm all over it when it's released long as the screen quality isn't gimped.

 

[Havalo]

Not having Face ID would be a huge mistake.

Not a mistake unfortunately. It’s a Cooke strategy - Tim: iPhone Fold 2, our best Fold ever, now with FaceID gen 1 😉

 

[kirky29]

I guess it's essentially gonna be two iPhone Airs stuck together? Either Way I'm excited one, the Galaxy lineup is genuinely really good.

 

[tyranne201]

what happened to "build in America" ? lol.

 

[tyranne201]

I guess it's essentially gonna be two iPhone Airs stuck together? Either Way I'm excited one, the Galaxy lineup is genuinely really good.

I hope not. I hope the fold is the new pro or at least on pair.

 

[n20nine]

Let's goooo!

I'll finally make my return back to the Apple ecosystem once they release their foldable phone. I love my Fold 7 but so ready for Apple to put their spin on foldables.

I’m about to make the change to the Fold 7. What do you say is the biggest drawback so far?

 

[iMac The Knife]

I’m about to make the change to the Fold 7. What do you say is the biggest drawback so far?

Honestly, I don't can't think of any drawbacks to list for the Z Fold 7 except for the slow charging speeds compared to the Chinese foldables I've owned, and I've owned 10 foldables and 2 flips to date. It is the closest foldable to being perfect so far, IMO.

 

[Lioness~]

what happened to "build in America" ? lol.

It changed to hyped in America 😉

 

[krspkbl]

I hope not. I hope the fold is the new pro or at least on pair.

They'd be stupid to make the folding phone weaker than the 18 Pro Max.

I think it will essentially be a refreshed Air "glued" to another Air. The differences being:

One Air has a "camera plateau" with 3 cameras to match the Pro Max

It'll get the A20 Pro or a new "A20 Max" processor. The Pro Max will get a "A20 Plus" or keep the "A20 Pro".

The RAM will be 16GB or even 18GB vs 12GB on the Pro Max.

It'll have the best battery life of any iPhone.

and it'll have stereo speakers!!

 

[drmacnut]

I'd love a foldable iPhone, but $2000+ seems excessive, even for a gadget-head like me. Also, carrying a $2000+ device in my cargo-pants pocket would make me nervous. Perhaps this explains Apple's odd new "crossbody strap" holder for the iPhone 17 series.

 

[jpf293]

Foldable iPad? Now you've got my attention.

 

[iMac The Knife]

I'd love a foldable iPhone, but $2000+ seems excessive, even for a gadget-head like me. Also, carrying a $2000+ device in my cargo-pants pocket would make me nervous. Perhaps this explains Apple's odd new "crossbody strap" holder for the iPhone 17 series.

$2000 is in line with the pricing for a similar specked iPhone Pro and an iPad Mini. And, you get these two devices in one which is a huge bonus. It's actually cheaper when you consider the fact that you no longer need an additional cellular data plan that you have to pay monthly for to use the iPad Mini online from (almost) anywhere.

 

[Spock]

They need to do something new, releasing the same phone every year is going to start costing them soon.

 

[CharlesShaw]

"You get a plastic screen, You get a plastic screen, YOU get a plastic screen, everybody gets a plastic screen!"

 

[baconcat_8964]

$2000 is in line with the pricing for a similar specked iPhone Pro and an iPad Mini.

One random thought: should we compare 256GB iPhone 17 Pro + 256GB iPad mini with a 256GB or 512GB foldable iPhone? Since 256GB 17 Pro ($1099) plus 256GB cellular iPad mini ($749) is around $1850, and I don't think the $2000 foldable iPhone has 512GB base storage.