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According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Apple is encountering unexpected difficulties in the development of the iPhone Fold. In the worst-case scenario, a delay of several months is possible.
Just yesterday we reported on the start of test production of the iPhone Fold at Foxconn – news that suggested a planned market launch this fall. Now, a report from Nikkei Asia paints a much more cautious picture: Apple is said to have encountered more problems than expected during the engineering testing phase of its first foldable iPhone. A delay in mass production and the sales launch is therefore no longer out of the question.
Reuters news agency reported on a Nikkei Asia article citing supply chain sources. The report states that the technical challenges in developing the iPhone Fold are more complex than initially anticipated – a problem not surprising given the entirely new form factor, but apparently unexpected in its scale. Suppliers have reportedly already been informed that the component production schedule could be delayed.
What the sources say
A source familiar with the matter is quoted in the report as saying that more problems than expected arose during the early test production phase, and additional time is needed to resolve them and make necessary adjustments. In a worst-case scenario, the delivery of the iPhone Fold could be delayed by months.
The report doesn't specify the exact problems. Given the known challenges of foldable devices – hinge mechanism, display crease, dust and water resistance, and the thinness of the casing – several areas are conceivable. Apple uses a hinge made of titanium, stainless steel, and liquid metal in the iPhone Fold, which is intended to enable a virtually invisible display crease – a particularly ambitious goal.
Conflicting signals
The Nikkei report stands in some contrast to the weekend's news. Leaker Instant Digital had only reported on Weibo on Sunday that test production at Foxconn had started as planned – and reaffirmed its earlier assessment that the iPhone Fold would be released at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro.
These two pieces of information are not necessarily contradictory: Test production at Foxconn may have already begun, while problems continue to arise in the parallel engineering testing phase – which covers other aspects such as material testing, quality control, and production yield. It is not unusual in the industry for a completely new form factor to cause difficulties at this stage.
Nikkei Asia is considered one of the most reliable sources for reports from Apple's Asian supply chain. The report lends further weight to existing assessments by Barclays analyst Tim Long and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, both of whom believe a later launch than that of the iPhone 18 Pro is likely.
iPhone Fold: What this means for the market launch
The most likely outcome is a staggered launch: the iPhone Fold will be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September, but actual availability will only occur weeks or months later. The report does not suggest a complete cancellation of the 2026 market launch – the problems are described as solvable, but time-consuming.
For those interested, little changes for now: The iPhone Fold remains Apple's most ambitious product in years, and minor delays with a completely new device type featuring three design premieres are more the rule than the exception. Anyone looking for an overview of all the rumors and facts so far can find an updated summary here. (Image: Shutterstock / tinhkhuong)
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