Reducing screen creasing won’t cut it, eliminate screen creasing has to be the goal.
Apple plans to use liquid metal in the hinges of its upcoming foldable iPhone to improve durability and reduce screen creasing, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple has reportedly chosen liquid metal, which is manufactured using a die-casting process, as a key component in addressing common issues with foldable devices. The design choice aims to enhance screen flatness and minimize the crease marks that typically plague folding displays.
Kuo notes that Apple has previously used liquid metal in smaller components like SIM ejector pins, but the foldable iPhone will mark the company's first major use of the material in a critical mechanical part. Dongguan EonTec will reportedly be the exclusive supplier of liquid metal.
Previous reports suggest Apple's foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded and a 5.5-inch cover display. The device is expected to adopt a book-style design similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, rather than a clamshell form factor.
According to earlier information from Kuo, the foldable iPhone may include two rear cameras, a single front-facing camera, and Touch ID integrated into the power button. The device could measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed.
Mass production is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, suggesting a potential launch in late 2026 or early 2027.
Article Link: Kuo: Foldable iPhone to Feature Liquid Metal Hinges for Better Durability
People buy phones. People buy tablets. Some People buy phones and buy tablets, and some of those would like to have both phone and tablet in a single device. Easy concept.I'm not anti, just wondering what people do with a phone this big. Where do you carry it? What do you do with it? Is it purely digital content digest that can't be done on a laptop or iPad or a TV? Is it even being used as a phone, an iPod and an internet communicator?
Suffice to say, IMO you are very wrong. Smart businesses (and Apple is a smart business) do not worry about cannibalizing, they give customers what they want. Businesses that change products to avoid cannibalizing just give competitors a weak point to attack.
And, if this rumor is true, it also means that Apple expects the market of foldable phones to increase. They understand that, worldwide, they wouldn’t get more than 20% of any foldable market, so they feel that in a couple years, 20% of the market THEN will be a decent amount that they can profit from.
No, it is not "business 101 to not compete with yourself." Business 101 says give the customer what they want and do not worry too much about competing with yourself.
I have a Fold 6 and have never answered a call by flipping it open. I use it like a regular phone and most of the times, no one knows it's a fold phone. I only open mine when doing content consumption, at home on the sofa, waiting in the doctors office ( I'm old, this happens a lot
) etc. I don't answer the phone with it open unless it's already open and the phone rings.
To be fair it’s a part of the focus of every company that sells a line of several products
This one actually seems to be less about cannibalization and more about not handing Qualcomm a percentage of every macbook* sold. I’d actually expect to finally see macbooks with cell modems in the next few years using Apple’s modem now that they have an in house working one
This one I could see an argument for being about cannibalization but, as much as I personally want this, I can also see the argument apple makes being good at face value - they’re two different types of devices and hybrid devices of this kind often tend to be bad at both. Really it’s probably a mix of the two why we dont have this
I mean, no one is forcing you to buy apple gear. I dont feel particularly limited by my apple gear, work or personal, these days but to each their own 🤷♂️
Before iPhone, I had an iPod Classic and a Nokia 6300. I couldn’t afford the original iPhone but got the iPhone 3G when it came out and got rid of the iPod. I never bought another iPod after that but I also haven’t bought another brand phone since either. I think it worked out ok for Apple, lol.
What I don’t understand is why Apple is going for a vertical book style fold vs a horizontal clam shell fold. Why do people want a foldable that is almost as large as a regular phone in their pocket?
It should be a flip type horizontal fold that is smaller in your pocket but opens to a larger screen. Simple and advantageous for those who want more screen with smaller pocket sized phone. Why is ( or is) Apple going the other way?
I’ve been wondering if they use this opportunity to drop the “I”. All the newer things start with “Apple”. Also wondering about a possible merged OS someday called appleOS.
Probably same reason why they haven't renewed the mini
