Overview
- Foxconn has begun trial production of the foldable iPhone, which reports Monday said marks the step where Apple tests factory lines before any mass build.
- Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman now says Apple plans to unveil the device in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, with sales targeted for around the same time and a limited first wave.
- Nikkei Asia reports the phone is stuck in engineering verification with more issues than expected, citing hinge and display stack choices that could push shipments to late 2026 or even 2027 if unresolved by April and May.
- Leaked dummy units from tipster Sonny Dickson show a wide, shorter ‘passport’ shape with an outer screen near 5.5 inches and an inner panel near 7.8 inches, and reports suggest Apple may drop Face ID for a side Touch ID to keep the device thin.
- Analysts and outlets expect a premium price in the roughly $1,800 to $2,400 range and a small first run near 7 to 8 million units, which would mean scarce early availability as Apple enters a foldables market long led by Samsung and Chinese brands.