Foldable iPhone launch date pushed back: Is Apple prioritizing thinness or functionality?
The latest reports suggest that the foldable iPhone (iPhone Fold) will be delayed until the end of next year. The device is notable for its slim 4.5 mm profile, but this comes at the cost of removing Face ID and a telephoto camera.
Although Apple's supply chain partners are ready to mass-produce foldable iPhones, global consumers will likely have to wait longer than expected. The latest moves from major component suppliers suggest that this ambitious project is undergoing adjustments to its official release timeline.
Delay signals from the component supply chain
According to a report from the Economic Daily News, Apple's strategic suppliers have indirectly confirmed the postponement of the foldable iPhone launch. Specifically, Enping Lin, CEO of Largan Precision – a camera supplier for Apple – stated at a shareholder meeting that several key projects scheduled for the third quarter of this year have been delayed until early next year.
Similarly, Ruan Chaozong, General Manager of Xinrixing – the partner responsible for developing the folding hinge – revealed that the company is still waiting for Apple to finalize the official delivery schedule. The coincidence in the plans of these two companies has led experts to believe that the delayed device is indeed the first foldable iPhone.
Specifications: A combination of iPhone and iPad mini.
Based on analysis by expert Ming-Chi Kuo, the foldable iPhone (tentatively called iPhone Fold) will feature a flexible dual-display system. The secondary external screen will be 5.3 inches in size, equivalent to a smaller iPhone, allowing users to easily operate it with one hand when the device is closed.
When unfolded, the device offers a large display area with a 7.7-inch main screen, roughly the size of an iPad mini. Notably, Apple is expected to adopt a 4:3 aspect ratio. This design provides a wider screen than current Android competitors, turning the device into a true miniature tablet.
Sacrificing technology to achieve record-breaking thinness.
One of the most impressive technical highlights of the iPhone Fold is its thickness of just 4.5 mm when unfolded. To achieve this record-breaking figure, Apple had to make significant trade-offs in terms of hardware:
- Remove Face ID:The complex facial recognition system will be replaced with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor integrated directly into the power button, similar to the approach used on the iPad Air.
- Reduce the number of cameras:To optimize space and slimness, the device is not expected to be equipped with a telephoto (optical zoom) camera lens.
Sales strategy and expected launch date
Analysts predict Apple may introduce the iPhone Fold alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series at its September event. However, the official release date may be pushed back to December or later due to adjustments in the production line.
Notably, internal sources indicate that this device will initially be available in extremely limited quantities. This is seen as a strategy to create scarcity to gauge market reaction, a method Apple successfully employed with the first generation of AirPods.
