Rumor Apple’s And Its Suppliers Can’t Seem To Agree On The iPhone Fold’s Material Choices And Prices, Putting Its 2026 Launch In Jeopardy Omar Sohail • at EDT Add on Google Only yesterday, we reported on the iPhone Fold reaching a new milestone by entering the trial production phase How We Rate Rumors 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources RUMOR ASSESSMENT 55% Plausible Foldable smartphone manufacturers were about to brace themselves for what was about to be the first step towards facing one of the toughest challenges in this sector, the iPhone Fold launch. Only yesterday, Apple had seemingly accomplished the near-impossible by addressing the crease-less display and its first foldable flagship entering trial production at Foxconn. Unfortunately, it appears the previous rumor spoke too soon as some roadblocks still stand in the way of the iPhone Fold’s mass manufacturing, such as Apple and its suppliers settling on the materials’ pricing. Majority of components have already been decided for the iPhone Fold, but Apple is still considering 3D printed titanium alloy and liquid metal, causing delays An unnamed source had informed Weibo tipster Fixed-focus digital cameras of the iPhone Fold’s delay in March. Now, according to an update that he received, Apple has seemingly finalized nearly all the parts belonging to the device, such as the Ultra-Thin Glass, inner display, battery capacity, and the A20 Pro. Unfortunately, there are two obstacles that cannot be scaled for the moment; choosing liquid metal, 3D printed titanium alloy, and settling on the manufacturer’s price. Related Story Apple Is Trying To Phase Out M4 Chip-Based Products, Which Is Why You Can’t Get Your Hands On Mac Mini And Mac Studio Devices Right NowFor those who haven’t been following, Apple’s insistence on employing 3D printing helps to reduce manufacturing costs, which is one of the reasons why the MacBook Neo is incredibly affordable. Given that the iPhone Fold’s estimated base price is $2,000, a ton of ingenuity is required to get that figure down, with Apple also attempting to negotiate with suppliers on making the parts less expensive. Apple and its suppliers cannot seem to agree on the iPhone Fold’s materials and prices Based on the latest rumor, both entities are at an impasse, which may delay the iPhone Fold’s mass manufacturing timeline, and by extension, its launch. Since the Product Validation Testing (PVT) phase is expected in July or early August, Apple has plenty of time to decide the materials and pricing, but with every day passing, the Cupertino firm continues to run out of time. The tipster previously mentioned that both the iPhone 18 and iPhone Fold would enter mass production in July, and according to his newest claims, Apple will stick to the original plan, unless some other problem pops up. It’s important to treat this information with a pinch of salt, since Fixed-focus digital cameras doesn’t have the best track record compared to Majin, but we’ll be happy to provide future updates in a timely fashion. News Source: Fixed-focus digital cameras About the : Omar Sohail is a and analyst for 's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology. Follow on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds. Further Reading Apple Would Rather Lose Money Hoarding All Available DRAM Than Let a Single Competitor Secure Supply Apple About To Become Every Foldable Smartphone Maker’s Worst Nightmare, As iPhone Fold Mass Production Kicks Off Apple Is Dominating Smartphone Rivals To The Point Where It’s Not Bothered To Change The iPhone 18 Appearance ’s M5 Can Lose Up To 40% In FPS Due To Passive Cooling, MacBook Pro’s Active Fan Remains The Superior Choice For Sustained Workloads Read all on Apple’s And Its Suppliers Can’t Seem To Agree On The iPhone Fold’s Material Choices And Prices, Putting Its 2026 Launch In Jeopardy
