Apple’s “Ultra” foldable iPhone is expected to begin mass production in late July, according to a new report from The Elect.
Although some recent reports suggest that the book-style device could be delayed due to hinge-related issues, the Korean media outlet’s sources indicate that Apple is still targeting a September launch as planned.
BloombergMark Gurman of Mark Gurman reported in March that the new foldable iPhone would not ship to customers in the same September time frame as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. A month later, Gurman said the foldable iPhone remains on track for a September launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, and that Apple aims to put it on sale around the same time or a little later.
Gurman noted at the time, however, that “the release is six months away and production has not yet ramped up” and that “the timing is not final.”
The foldable iPhone will use a 7.8-inch foldable OLED panel supplied by Samsung. The display uses a newer design that eliminates one of the traditional display layers and instead integrates the color filtering layer directly into the display stack, making the display thinner, lighter and more power efficient.
The hinge would be supplied by the Taiwanese Shin Zu Shing and the American Amphenol. Both companies would provide hinges manufactured using 3D printing techniques.
The Electthe latest Apple sources said did encountered some difficulty with the hinge during testing. After undergoing durability testing involving millions of folds, the mechanism reportedly began to produce a slight “noise”, while wider-than-expected manufacturing tolerances in parts of the assembly process contributed to higher defect rates. However, most of these issues have since been resolved, according to a Taiwan-based industry source cited by the outlet.
In addition to the interior display, the foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 5.5-inch cover display, as well as Apple’s A20 chip and C2 modem, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and dual rear cameras, with an estimated price of around $2,000. Apple’s book-style foldable could launch under the name ‘iPhone Ultra’, as reports suggest.
