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Apple has a long history of entering markets after competitors but still reshaping them with refined products. The iPod and iPhone are prime examples, where the company arrived late but quickly dominated. Now, Apple seems poised to follow the same strategy in the foldable smartphone market.
Foldable smartphones have been around for years, with Samsung leading through its Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip. While popular, these devices face a persistent challenge: the crease that forms along the bend of the screen. Many premium buyers see this crease as a flaw, limiting wider adoption.
According to the new reports, Apple may have solved this problem. Sources within the supply chain claim the company has developed a “crease-free” design, potentially making Apple’s first foldable iPhone the first device to avoid this issue entirely.
The technology is no longer in early testing. It has reportedly reached the engineering verification stage and is moving toward pre-mass production. Foxconn has assigned a dedicated production line for the device, which some expect to be called the iPhone Fold.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo explains that Apple’s crease-free system uses a metal plate inside the display. This plate spreads bending stress, preventing the screen from exceeding its elastic limit. Laser drilling will create microstructures in the panel to further guide stress and reduce creasing. Economic Daily News adds that the hinge could use Liquidmetal, a strong and lightweight material 2.5 times more resistant to deformation than titanium alloy.
Rumored features include Apple’s C2 modem for faster speeds and improved battery efficiency. The device may unfold horizontally into a small tablet form, similar to an iPad, and look like two stacked iPhone Air models when closed. Instead of Face ID, Apple may rely on a side-mounted Touch ID sensor.
If production continues smoothly, reports suggest the foldable iPhone could launch in September 2026, marking Apple’s first entry into this emerging smartphone segment.
