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Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone is expected to become a reality shortly. The Cupertino-based tech behemoth has yet to provide any details regarding its debut, but a fresh source claims that the foldable phone is in its early phases of development. The device is planned to finish prototype testing by late 2025 and then enter the Engineering Verification Test (EVT) phase. The foldable iPhone might debut in the second part of next year.
Apple reportedly begins the prototyping phase for foldable iPhone
According to Digitimes, citing supply chain sources, Apple's foldable iPhone entered the prototype (P1) stage in June. Apple is reported to maintain a conventional development cycle for the foldable iPhone, which might move from P1 to P3 prototype stages before entering the EVT phase, followed by mass production. This might pave the way for a debut in the latter part of 2026.
Each prototype stage of the foldable iPhone allegedly takes around two months. During this period, Apple's supply chain partners may conduct limited trial productions. Once the testing are completed, iPhone assemblers Foxconn and Pegatron will allegedly check production yields and analyze manufacturability before ramping up production.
The initial shipping estimates for Apple's foldable iPhone are allegedly around 7 million units. This value may alter depending on market response.
Furthermore, the journal, citing people familiar with the topic, claims that Apple was working on a foldable iPad to complement the foldable iPhone, but that this idea has been scrapped. Industry analysts say the stop is due to manufacturing hurdles, high production costs, particularly for flexible screens, and a lack of consumer demand for larger folding devices.
Apple's arrival into the foldable market is likely to intensify the rivalry. The foldable iPhone is expected to compete with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold range, Pixel's Fold phones, and a number of Chinese foldables.
The foldable iPhone is expected to cost approximately $2,300 (roughly Rs. 1,99,000) in the United States. It is rumored to have a liquid metal hinge. It's claimed to have a 7.8-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch external display. The future model might be 9.2mm thick when folded and 4.6mm when unfurled. It is believed to include a side-mounted Touch ID sensor.
