Apple’s Foldable iPhone Set to Launch in September, Limited Initial Supply Confirmed

Apple’s Foldable iPhone Set to Launch in September, Limited Initial Supply Confirmed

Recently, the information emerging from Apple’s vast supply chain has been chaotic, especially concerning the anticipated foldable iPhone. However, recent insights from renowned Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman have dispelled some of the confusion.

September Launch for Apple’s Foldable iPhone Alongside iPhone 18 Pro Duo, According to Mark Gurman

Earlier in the day, Nikkei Asia reported that Apple’s foldable iPhone is facing engineering challenges, raising concerns about a possible delay. Adding to the mixed signals, a tipster on Weibo named Fixed-Focus Digital Cameras indicated ongoing uncertainty regarding the pricing of essential components and highlighted a decision between adopting a hinge mechanism made of ‘liquid metal’ or utilizing 3D-printed titanium, which employs chip-level high-molecular 3D printing technology.

In contrast, Gurman has reassured that Apple is “scheduled to reveal the foldable model in September“alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Despite certain engineering challenges that may restrict initial supply for several weeks, Apple plans to release the device concurrently or shortly after the launch of its non-foldable counterparts.

However, despite this newfound clarity regarding the launch date of the foldable iPhone, uncertainties remain within other facets of the device. A different Weibo source, Digital Chat Station, has claimed that the new foldable will be branded as the iPhone Ultra, shifting from the previously speculated iPhone Fold naming convention.

Beyond the hinge complexity, Apple is reportedly considering a method to place the display layer between two layers of Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) and Ultra-Thin Flexible Glass (UFG).This approach aims to mitigate mechanical wear from frequent folding while evenly distributing stress during the folding process, potentially eliminating the common crease issue. Taiwan’s Economic Daily revealed that the crease depth on the iPhone Fold could be as minimal as 0.15mm.

Additionally, Apple plans to implement a color filter known as CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) over the OLED panel’s protective layer. This innovation is expected to yield thinner, lighter displays with enhanced efficiency. Under the CoE protocol, the traditional circular polarizer is replaced with a more streamlined color filter layer. Coupled with a pixel definition layer, this setup boosts light transmittance and decreases power consumption, favoring the thin-profile design required for foldables.

In the latest updates from South Korea, there are reports indicating that Apple is targeting a base price for the iPhone Fold/iPhone Ultra at approximately $2, 000, a reduction from earlier expectations of $2, 300 to $2, 400.

Gurman recently highlighted that the foldable iPhone’s operating system will feature “iPad-like layouts and side-by-side app functionality, ”simplifying multitasking compared to the desktop-like interface seen in iPadOS 26. The internal screen dimensions are anticipated to approximate those of an iPad, boasting a wider aspect ratio, while the external display is designed to resemble a compact iPhone screen. These features align with earlier suggestions of a passport-like, expansive device design.

As per Gurman, the external display of the foldable iPhone will incorporate a small hole-punch cutout, designed to support the Dynamic Island UI for notifications. Notably, the device will forgo Face ID in favor of integrating Touch ID into the side button. While Apple is examining the inclusion of an under-display camera for the inner display, ongoing trials have yet to yield satisfactory image quality, reducing the likelihood of this feature appearing in the final product. The device is set to house a dual rear camera configuration, with both sensors rumored to offer 48MP resolution.

Key Specifications of the Foldable iPhone/iPhone Ultra:

  1. Integration of a dedicated vapor chamber.
  2. Resolution of 2, 713 x 1, 920 with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
  3. Side-mounted Touch ID as a replacement for Face ID.
  4. A20 Pro SoC with 12GB RAM and in-house C2 5G modem.
  5. Dual rear cameras, each at 48MP resolution.
  6. Selfie camera resolution reaching up to 24MP.
  7. Battery capacity between 5, 400-5, 800mAh.
  8. Launch as an eSIM-only variant.

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