Apple resolves key foldable iPhone hinge issues ahead of mass production

Apple has largely resolved hinge durability issues on its first foldable iPhone, clearing a path for mass production in late July, according to The Elec.phonearena+1
The book-style device, expected to be branded "iPhone Ultra," will feature a 7.8-inch inner display, Touch ID instead of Face ID, and a price above $2,000.the-gadgeteer+1
Foxconn is handling initial production, with suppliers reporting no delays to a September unveiling alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.macworld+1

Apple's first foldable iPhone appears to have overcome its most pressing engineering challenge. Supply chain sources cited by The Elec report that hinge-related problems plaguing the device during testing have been largely resolved, clearing the path for mass production to begin in late July.phonearena+1

Hinge Problems Addressed

The foldable device, widely expected to carry the "iPhone Ultra" branding, had encountered an embarrassing issue during testing: audible creaking and rattling from the hinge mechanism after repeated use. A Taiwan-based industry source quoted in The Elec's report said that "most of these problems have now been resolved," though it remains unclear whether the fix eliminates the issue entirely or extends the timeline before it manifests.macworld+1

Trial production began in April, and Foxconn Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. is handling the initial mass production run. A September unveiling alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max remains the target, with the report stating a launch is "expected to proceed without significant issues".the-gadgeteer+1

Specs and Pricing Take Shape

The foldable iPhone is expected to feature a book-style design with a 7.8-inch inner OLED display supplied by Samsung and a 5.5-inch cover screen for standard one-handed use. It will run Apple's A20 chip on TSMC's Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited 2-nanometer process with 12 gigabytes of RAM. Notably, the device is expected to replace Face ID with a Touch ID power button — a first for a new iPhone in years.macrumors+2

Pricing is rumored to start around $2,000, which would make it the most expensive iPhone ever released.the-gadgeteer+2

A Tight but Viable Timeline

The path to mass production has not been smooth. DigiTimes reported in April that the timeline had slipped one to two months, and a separate leak in late May pointed to surface-mount technology yield problems during pre-assembly. Still, multiple supply chain sources confirmed as recently as this week that they have received no indication of a delay to the September window. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple is targeting a sale date around the time the iPhone 18 Pro models ship, or possibly slightly later.macrumors+4

Sources (15)