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Foldable iPhone Production Stalls Amid Hinge Issues
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Haiku_Oezu
macrumors 6502a
“This product which may or might not exist might or might not be having issues, the people who might or might not work on it might have said”
Remember when the marketing materials for the iPhone X leaked ahead of time? I miss those articles
Remember when the marketing materials for the iPhone X leaked ahead of time? I miss those articles
Edgecrusherr
macrumors 6502a
Whether this is true or not, I would NOT buy a first generation foldable iPhone. There's too many things that could go wrong with it, and something like this probably won't show all of its defects until millions of people are using it.
I would just like to know if once it is unfolded, is it capable of running any iPadOS native apps? My electronic Medical software only runs on iPad so I have to carry around a mini with me in addition to my phone.
Manuelrodrigues
macrumors member
I will leave the public betatesting to you guys and buy v2.
Trial production of Apple's long-anticipated foldable iPhone, likely called the "iPhone Ultra," has run into a significant engineering hurdle centered on hinge reliability, according to a known leaker.
The leaker known as "Instant Digital" posted on Weibo that the foldable device's hinge is consistently failing to meet Apple's quality control standards under conditions of prolonged, high-frequency opening and closing. The leaker described the mechanical wear issue as one that "must be resolved with absolute perfection; otherwise, progress will simply have to be stalled for the time being."
The hinge has been a key focus of Apple's foldable development for years. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first reported that the device would use Liquid Metal components in the hinge mechanism, with Dongguan EonTec serving as the exclusive supplier of the amorphous alloy. Instant Digital subsequently elaborated that the material, also known as metallic glass, features a disordered atomic structure that is more resistant to bending and deformation than traditional metals, and more durable than titanium alloy. This makes it suitable for a foldable's hinge.
Apple has previously used the material only in small components such as SIM ejector pins, so the iPhone Ultra would mark its first major use in a critical mechanical part. A subsequent report in January corroborated the liquid metal hinge plans, noting that Apple has been exploring the material for over 15 years, tracing back to a 2010 licensing deal with Liquidmetal Technologies.
Screen creasing is a concern that has followed the foldable smartphone category since its inception. Instant Digital says Apple has essentially accepted some degree of crease as inevitable, but that test results have demonstrated the device can maintain a visually crease-free state over the long term. That aligns with previous reporting: leaker "Fixed Focus Digital" reported in February that production orders had been placed with a crease depth under 0.15mm and a crease angle under 2.5 degrees. Apple has reportedly pursued eliminating the crease "regardless of cost," with engineering solutions including a dual-layer ultra-thin glass structure designed to spread mechanical stress across multiple layers, and advances in optically clear adhesive to keep display layers in precise alignment.
A follow-up post from the leaker suggested the hinge difficulties are unlikely to push back the device's expected release window somewhat, noting that there is still ample time remaining. That is broadly consistent with earlier reporting: DigiTimes reported in April that production was running roughly one to two months behind schedule, but that a fall 2026 launch remained on track, with mass production planned to begin in July. Apple is expected to announce the foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models at its September event, though some reports suggest customer availability could slip as late as December.
In a third post, Instant Digital offered a note on the device's experience, suggesting that despite its larger form factor the foldable feels like an iPhone rather than an iPad when in use. The leaker added that the screen size offers limited practical utility for a stylus, casting doubt on whether Apple Pencil support would be a meaningful feature for the device.
The foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, with an A20 chip, C2 modem, Touch ID power button, and two rear cameras. Pricing is rumored to sit at around $2,000.
Article Link: Foldable iPhone Production Stalls Amid Hinge Issues
Literally none of this post adds up.
“The leaker described the mechanical wear issue as one that "must be resolved with absolute perfection; otherwise, progress will simply have to be stalled for the time being.”
So you are telling me that Apple is only finalizing the design, three months before it launches? The same company that finalized the Vision Pro design as early as 2020 and then didn’t release the thing until 2024?
The same company who literally had the second generation AirTags basically ready to go in warehouses for a year and a half before they actually dropped?
The same company, who apparently is having the CEO depart on September 1, just so the new CEO can be the guy who introduces the first folding iPhone during his first full month? And it could… just be ‘stalled’ like that? I don’t think that’s how $3 trillion companies work.
“the leaker suggested the hinge difficulties are unlikely to push back the device's expected release window somewhat, noting that there is still ample time remaining.”
Of course, the classic tactic from a leaker. oh, there is big, big, big problems, but those big big big problems could be solved and if they are solved than technically I was right.
“, Instant Digital offered a note on the device's experience, suggesting that despite its larger form factor the foldable feels like an iPhone rather than an iPad when in use. The leaker added that the screen size offers limited practical utility for a stylus, casting doubt on whether Apple Pencil support would be a meaningful feature for the device.”
… except for the fact that the dimensions have been out there for like a year, we know that when unfolded it’s basically the same screen size and aspect ratio of the iPad Mini 1 through 5.
Plus the Chinese manufacturing companies would have absolutely no access to the software running on the devices, and would have absolutely no idea what the experience of using it is actually like.
Not only is the software made here in the US outside of those manufacturing companies, but it’s not even going to be finalized until maybe a month before the phone launches.
“The leaker described the mechanical wear issue as one that "must be resolved with absolute perfection; otherwise, progress will simply have to be stalled for the time being.”
So you are telling me that Apple is only finalizing the design, three months before it launches? The same company that finalized the Vision Pro design as early as 2020 and then didn’t release the thing until 2024?
The same company who literally had the second generation AirTags basically ready to go in warehouses for a year and a half before they actually dropped?
The same company, who apparently is having the CEO depart on September 1, just so the new CEO can be the guy who introduces the first folding iPhone during his first full month? And it could… just be ‘stalled’ like that? I don’t think that’s how $3 trillion companies work.
“the leaker suggested the hinge difficulties are unlikely to push back the device's expected release window somewhat, noting that there is still ample time remaining.”
Of course, the classic tactic from a leaker. oh, there is big, big, big problems, but those big big big problems could be solved and if they are solved than technically I was right.
“, Instant Digital offered a note on the device's experience, suggesting that despite its larger form factor the foldable feels like an iPhone rather than an iPad when in use. The leaker added that the screen size offers limited practical utility for a stylus, casting doubt on whether Apple Pencil support would be a meaningful feature for the device.”
… except for the fact that the dimensions have been out there for like a year, we know that when unfolded it’s basically the same screen size and aspect ratio of the iPad Mini 1 through 5.
Plus the Chinese manufacturing companies would have absolutely no access to the software running on the devices, and would have absolutely no idea what the experience of using it is actually like.
Not only is the software made here in the US outside of those manufacturing companies, but it’s not even going to be finalized until maybe a month before the phone launches.
Manuelrodrigues
macrumors member
RedTheReader
macrumors 6502a
I don’t know man. I run my car at a high frequency using moving parts, and it doesn’t have reliability problems.
Chet-NYC
macrumors regular
I smell bs... I notice that every time there is some story like this, Apple stock drops.. right now, it's down over $4.50 a share. I honestly believe these anonymous sources make crap up, watch the stock dip and then buy up shares. Within a few hours or a day, a more legitimate source comes out telling us the original story is false, the stock pops back up and the originator of the false story makes some cash.
Beyond that, considering this foldable iPhone will probably sell in the $2500 a piece range.. is it really worth shaving tens of billions off the company's market cap for what will almost certainly be a very niche item?
Beyond that, considering this foldable iPhone will probably sell in the $2500 a piece range.. is it really worth shaving tens of billions off the company's market cap for what will almost certainly be a very niche item?
TRANSLATION: It will be announced September, Ship late that month or october, November at the latest, cost alot, be in short supplies, and you'd be lucky if you get one by Christmas. After the holidays they wont be able to give them away!
Quality problems due to actual mass production of the hinges? Otherwise they must have greenlit the hinges, and tested them for millions of folds, long time ago. Shouldn't be any issues left to discover at this point, one would think.
I really don't think any company can build a smartphone foldable at the standards that are hoped for. Apple is no different.
Mr_Ed
macrumors 65816
Same here.
Just surprised you think adding a hinge and flexible display to make a foldable phone would yield a phone that is just as reliable and long-lasting as a slab phone, let alone as an automobile.
JTK Awesome
macrumors 6502
In other news, water is wet.
Folding screens are a step too far with current technology. We need this or better.
Folding screens are a step too far with current technology. We need this or better.
conmee
macrumors 6502a
I thought about this approach as well and I’m sure someone at Apple has been working on a solution like this. I think the main problem is that even if the interior edges of the screen that come together were truly completely “bezel-less” that there would still be an infinitesimal gap that shows up as a hairline down the middle. Even if the space between were smaller than a single pixel, a discernible hairline which would be more annoying than a crease (depending on level of OCD one has - I’d personally opt for a crease vs hairline, but I’m not in the market for a foldable either way). If they do figure out a way to make two screens come together such that there is absolutely no visible hairline or crease, that would be ideal.
This is the manufacturing side. Their in house models probably work great, but trying to get the machining right to produce them at scale can be extremely difficult, especially with the level of precision required.
ClaraStahlbaum
macrumors 6502a
Wish they put all this effort into making the next iphone lineup better. Removing the dumb dynamic island, making them slimmer, edge to edge displays. Foldable phones don't seem like a worthwhile thing to me, at least, not for the prices I am seeing.
klasma
macrumors G4
I don’t think it’s possible, at least not without those edges being very easily damaged. Otherwise Apple wouldn’t have to resort to optical tricks for the bezel-less 20th anniversary iPhone.