Apple’s first foldable iPhone has reportedly finished testing, trial production to start by the end of the year
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While Apple hasn’t confirmed anything about the first foldable iPhone, several leaks and rumors seem to confirm that the tech giant is actively working on one. It’s expected to use Samsung’s crease-free display, while being powered by the Apple A20 Pro chip. And now, a new report suggests that the design has been finalised, with trial production expected to start before 2026.
The report comes from Chinese media outlet Money UDN, which claims that Apple’s first foldable iPhone has reportedly finished its testing phase and could launch as early as next year. Most recently, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman – a prominent Apple analyst – suggested the new foldable could essentially be iPhone Airs combined together.
How long until an iPhone foldable?
The report says that Apple has asked its biggest assembly partner, Foxconn (Hon Hai), and Shin Nihon Kogyo, a key supplier of bearing components, to form a joint venture. These two companies will work together to produce Apple’s first foldable iPhone in Taiwan. Bearings are an essential part of a foldable device, as they allow the phone to bend and fold smoothly without breaking. Apple has reportedly chosen Shin Nihon because the company has worked with Apple for many years, especially on the MacBook lineup.
Apple has reportedly been working on its foldable phone for more than five years. The design has gone through many changes during development, with multiple revisions to get everything just right. Sources say the design is now finally confirmed, and the phone is expected to enter trial production by the end of this year. After that, full-scale production will begin, with Shin Nihon increasing its bearing production starting in the fourth quarter of 2025 and ramping up further in 2026. Apple is also expected to skip the standard iPhone 18 next year and replace it with the new foldable phone instead.
Right now, analysts believe Apple plans to ship around 12 million units of the foldable iPhone over its entire life cycle, with about 8 million units expected to ship in 2026 alone. Like we say, Apple has shied away from any official comment on the foldable, only going as far as “Who’s to say?” in an interview at WWDC earlier this year.
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