Crease-Free iPhone Fold on Track for 2026 Launch as Development Advances

[MacRumors]

Apple is making progress on the development of the book-style foldable iPhone expected in 2026, according to a report from Chinese site UDN. The device has reportedly entered the engineering validation stage, and Apple is gearing up for mass production.

Citing supply chain sources, UDN says that Apple has solved "the crease problem" that has plagued most foldable smartphones, and the foldable iPhone will be the first crease-free foldable smartphone on the market. We've heard multiple prior rumors about Apple's intensive work on the hinge and display to minimize creasing, so this isn't the first time the foldable iPhone has been rumored to have a seamless screen.

Apple is using an inner screen designed by Samsung, but the panel structure, lamination method, and material process was designed by Apple. Apple worked with its suppliers to come up with a hinge design that prevents a permanent crease, and the hinge will adopt Liquid Metal components. By using Liquid Metal, Apple was able to design an iPhone that has a durable hinge that still has a slim design.

Apple will allegedly call the device the "iPhone Fold," which is the name sites have already adopted when sharing rumors about the product.

There have been rumors suggesting that Apple could delay the foldable iPhone beyond 2026, but if Apple is ready for the engineering validation stage of iPhone development, a September 2026 launch timeline as planned is entirely plausible.

Article Link: Crease-Free iPhone Fold on Track for 2026 Launch as Development Advances

 

[germanbeer007]

nobody reasonable wants a foldable phone. it's such a stupid product.

 

[yuvaldv1]

Excited to finally see a new iPhone form factor from Apple. Not so excited for the price, though.

 

[HouseLannister]

Since I am still waiting on More Personal Siri after a year and half, I have zero faith that this phone will have any kind of decent multitasking experience. Just too far behind a Z Fold phone before it even ships. I am sure it will be great hardware, but the rushed beta software won't be ready for primetime until iOS 28 or 29.

 

[Hajj.david]

nobody wants a foldable phone. it's such a stupid product.

Fold 7 is selling well and its roughly the same width as the iPhone 17 pro max when folded. iPad when you want and phone when you don't is pretty compelling.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

Excited to finally see a new iPhone form factor from Apple. Not so excited for the price, though.

Come on now ... you can live with a single kidney. 😉

 

[Brian Greenstone]

What does Liquid Ass have to do with the crease? I'm confused. Are they covering the crease with Liquid Ass effects?

 

[DocMultimedia]

If camera isn't as good as the next Pro I won't be buying. Camera determines purchase.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

nobody reasonable wants a foldable phone. it's such a stupid product.

You don’t want one which is fine but you’re just one person. Saying “nobody” wants it just because you don’t is incorrect. Plenty of people want it.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Sounds like a job for Liquid Glass. Oh, wait.

 

[jz0309]

nobody reasonable wants a foldable phone. it's such a stupid product.

I guess that makes me an unreasonable person - Thanks for that

 

[Dirk Pieters]

Having played with a Fold 7 for a few minutes at a local store, I have to admit I was intrigued, from a tech/nerd point of view.

Do I need this in a phone? No.

Do I know how/if it could replace my iPad mini should I get one? No.

Do I want to spend an arm and a leg on it? No.

Am I curious to see what Apple will do with the crease thing? Yes.

 

[krspkbl]

The crease isn’t the issue.

It’s the soft plastic screen that is going to get wrecked by your finger nail or small bits of dust/debris.

Sorry but I ain’t paying even more money for a phone that is going to be ruined so easily. But hey at least you can just buy AppleCare…

I’ll stick to boring old iPhones with solid glass that I can put a glass screen protector on.

 

[Hots]

What does Liquid Ass have to do with the crease? I'm confused. Are they covering the crease with Liquid Ass effects?

Liquid Ass is what happens when your fart fluids, not what they’re putting into a $2000 product.

 

[jz0309]

I can easily see myself replacing my iPad, but will have to see and handle it in person... and it will have to have faced, touched sucks and will be a showstopper for me

 

[germanbeer007]

Fold 7 is selling well and its roughly the same width as the iPhone 17 pro max when folded. iPad when you want and phone when you don't is pretty compelling.

compromises all around

 

[Jack Burton]

I would be VERY interested to see how they solved it.

 

[germanbeer007]

You don’t want one which is fine but you’re just one person. Saying “nobody” wants it just because you don’t is incorrect. Plenty of people want it.

"nobody reasonable"

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

“Crease-free” huh?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Missed opportunity: In-creased likelihood of 2026 launch, no?

I'll grab my coa- oh wait I didn't bring one...

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Liquid Ass is what happens when your fart fluids, not what they’re putting into a $2000 product.

You can get Liquid glAss for the low price of $799.

iPhone 17

iPhone 17. Center Stage front camera. Latest-generation Ceramic Shield. 6.3-inch ProMotion display. A19 chip. Five gorgeous colors.

www.apple.com

 

[JPack]

Laggards will always exist - people asking others to use a smartphone as a pure phone and also shouting at the clouds.

The rest of us have been eagerly waiting for an Apple foldable for such a long time.

 

[Digital Dude]

After years of using bologna-and-white-bread Apple products, I think a foldable would be great. On the other hand, we’re talking about Apple, so I’m not expecting the first version to be very polished. Even so, I’d be tempted to give it a try unless they price it out of reach.

There was a YouTube review on the Pixel Fold that showed the day-to-day use benefits. As a guy dealing with a neurologic disease and age, there are some advantages to being able to manipulate a device like that. I’m all in, whether it comes from Apple or the other guys’.

 

[Two Appleseeds]

Crease-free my ass!

 

[xraydoc]

Now if the inner screen runs iPadOS so it'll do all the things an iPad mini can do, I'll buy day-one.

If it's "just" an iPhone with a bigger screen, then I probably won't.