Production on the iPhone Fold is behind schedule, but the device is still slated to launch in fall 2026, reports DigiTimes. The site says that production has been pushed back by "roughly one to two months," but Apple has not communicated any launch delays to suppliers. Apple is still planning for a 2026 launch, which suggests a tighter production schedule.


Apple planned to begin ‌iPhone Fold‌ mass production in June 2026, but mass production has now slipped to early August. Some rumors have suggested that Apple is having more manufacturing problems than expected with the Engineering Validation Test phase that the ‌iPhone Fold‌ is in right now, but other rumors suggest that won't lead to delays.

Last week, Japanese site Nikkei said that the engineering delays could cause Apple to delay the launch of the ‌iPhone Fold‌ until 2027, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the ‌iPhone Fold‌ remains on track to launch "around the same time" or "soon after" the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.

DigiTimes' report reconciles the two separate launch timing rumors, indicating that there is indeed a delay in the test phase, but Apple may be able to make up ground during the mass production phase. Prior to mass production, the ‌iPhone Fold‌ will still need to go through Design Validation Testing and Production Validation Testing.

A delay in the mass production timeline could cause serious supply chain shortages, and ‌iPhone Fold‌ availability is likely to be constrained. When we hear rumors about launch issues this early in an iPhone cycle, it typically leads to severe launch shortages and a device that sells out in minutes during pre-orders.

The ‌iPhone Fold‌ is expected to cost between $2,000 and $2,500. It will be Apple's first foldable device, with a 5.5-inch display when closed and a 7.8-inch display when open. More about the device can be found in our iPhone Fold roundup.
This article, "iPhone Fold Production Pushed Back, But Fall 2026 Launch Still on Track" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Advances in optically clear adhesive (OCA) will be a key factor in achieving a near-invisible crease in Apple's first foldable iPhone expected later this year, according to TrendForce.


The supply chain intelligence firm outlined the key technologies in a new report on foldable display innovation, explaining that creases form when layers within the display panel fall out of alignment, concentrating stress at the fold and causing micro-cracks or permanent deformation over time.

Ultra-thin glass (UTG) also plays a role in the optimal design. Apple's patents have described a design where the glass is thinner at the fold for flexibility and thicker elsewhere for durability, which is an approach consistent with reports last year that Apple was testing uneven-thickness panels, and more recently that it may use a dual-layer glass structure to spread stress across multiple layers.

The single most important factor, TrendForce says, is OCA. Modern formulations go well beyond simple bonding, staying pliable during gradual bending to reduce fatigue while temporarily stiffening under sudden impact to provide structural support. Over time, the adhesive's ability to flow into microscopic irregularities also reduces light scattering and keeps the crease less visible.

Hinge and structural engineering still matter too. Samsung Display uses laser drilling in the metal support plate behind the display to balance rigidity and flexibility, a technique analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported last July that Apple's foldable would also use via supplier Fine M-Tec. Samsung briefly showcased a crease-free panel at CES 2026, though it later clarified this was an R&D concept rather than a production-ready design.

Apple has reportedly pursued eliminating the crease "regardless of cost", and 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. TrendForce estimates Apple could capture close to 20% of the foldable smartphone market this year, which it says would compress Samsung and Huawei to roughly 30% each.

The foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Foxconn began trial production last week, and Samsung Display is reportedly on track to begin mass production of OLED panels for the device in May.
This article, "Smart Adhesive Is Key to Crease-Free Foldable iPhone Display" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is expected to feature a book-style form factor that's relatively uncommon in the foldables market, but Huawei's new Pura X Max appears to share a similar wide aspect ratio.


Set to be released in China next week, Huawei's new device actually builds upon a design used by the original, smaller Pura X, which was marketed last year as an extra-wide flip phone. Little is known about the Pura X Max beyond its triple lens rear camera, while Huawei's imagery shows the device being used in both portrait and landscape.

Prior to the Pura X Max's unveiling, Apple's rumored device was said to most resemble Oppo's Find N5. Samsung is also believed to be adopting a similar wide aspect ratio form factor for one of its upcoming foldables.

We've heard plenty of rumors about the foldable iPhone‌'s design, but the first alleged dummy models appeared last week. The device will have a 5.5-inch display when closed, making it Apple's smallest current-generation iPhone. When open, it will be around 7.8 inches, which is around half an inch smaller than the iPad mini.

Apple is expected to debut its first foldable alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, with a launch likely to shortly follow the Pro devices' release. Most rumors have suggested that the ‌foldable iPhone will start at around $2,000 and be available in traditional space gray/black and silver/white finishes.


One rumor claims that Apple will call it the "iPhone Ultra," rather than "iPhone Fold," which is the shorthand the media has largely been using.
This article, "New Huawei Foldable Looks a Lot Like Apple's Rumored iPhone Fold" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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