Asger Risom
Apple’s first foldable iPhone has taken another major step toward reality.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone has taken another major step toward reality, with the company reportedly finalizing its crease-free display design and signing off on a vapor-chamber cooling system. With those engineering hurdles settled, the device has now entered its pre-production phase — the stage just before mass manufacturing.
Suppliers across the chain, from display makers to hinge manufacturers and final assembly partners, are said to be on standby. Apple is expected to give the green light once the remaining tweaks are complete.
A foldable with flagship-level cooling
The foldable iPhone will use the same vapor-chamber cooling system deployed in the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, a move aimed at keeping temperatures stable during gaming, heavy multitasking, and other high-performance tasks — areas where most foldables still struggle.
Designing a crease-free display has been the primary obstacle. Apple reportedly rejected multiple hinge and display prototypes across the last two years, insisting on a panel that avoids the visible crease still present on most Android foldables.
Apple eyes up to 9 million units in year one
Apple is planning an aggressive first year, with internal estimates pointing to 7–9 million units shipped — higher than the debut expectations for most competing foldables. Major partners tied into the production pipeline include Samsung, TSMC, Foxconn, and Largan Precision.
The device is also rumored to debut with Apple’s first 2nm chip, the A20 Pro, which is expected to power the iPhone 18 Pro models as well.
Apple’s biggest hardware swing since Vision Pro
The foldable iPhone marks Apple’s most ambitious new hardware category since Vision Pro. And while entering the foldable market late, Apple is under pressure to deliver a device sturdy enough — and impressive enough — to justify a reported $1,800–$2,500 price tag.
Analysts say the hinge cost has dropped from early estimates of more than $100 to $70–$80, thanks to Foxconn’s scale and Apple’s refinements. Whether that savings reaches consumers remains unclear.
With pricing, durability, and product positioning still unknown, Apple now faces the question of whether it can do for foldables what it once did for smartphones: take an idea others attempted first — and define the category.
Sources: Apple, Phonearena, money.udn
