Rumors of a delay in the release of Apple's rumored foldable iPhone are untrue, a Chinese leaker has claimed. In a post on Weibo, the leaker known as Fixed Focus Digital said that the delay rumors are "false" and that speculation that the device's release has been pushed back to next year is "baseless."
See also: Delay in production of foldable iPhone due to hinge problems
Apple, known for its innovation and technological leadership, appears to be in the final stages of development of its first foldable iPhone, which is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models this September. Fixed Focus Digital believes that this is still the case. “The most likely scenario is that it will be released alongside the iPhone 18 series,” it said in another post earlier this month.
"Even if there is a delay, it will probably only be delayed for about a month before it hits the market," he added.
Developing a foldable smartphone is no easy feat. The engineering challenges are numerous, especially when it comes to the durability and reliability of the hinge mechanism. In May, Instant Digital claimed that Apple's foldable iPhone continued to face durability issues with the hinge mechanism. While Apple appears to have overcome concerns related to display creases, the long-term reliability of the hinge has yet to reach the company's standards.
Apple is known for imposing strict reliability standards on new product categories. This means that every new product must meet high standards of quality and reliability before it reaches consumers' hands. Continuing concerns about the hinge itself would be an unusual situation so close to an expected launch. However, Apple has the ability to successfully address such challenges, as it has proven in the past.
See also: Foldable iPhone faces mass production problems
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in March that the new foldable iPhone might not ship to customers in the same September timeframe as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Prior to Gurman's report, Barclays analyst Tim Longsuggested that the foldable iPhone wouldn't ship until December, opening up a roughly three-month delay between the all-new device and the iPhone 18 Pro models.
Apple has done split releases in the past, shipping one model later than another. When the iPhone X was released in 2017, it shipped in November, while the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus that were introduced with it were released in September as usual. Even if Apple plans to ship the iPhone Fold after September, it is expected to be unveiled during the annual iPhone event that will feature the iPhone 18 Pro models.
Apple will likely announce all three phones at the same time and then bring them to customers when they're ready.
The foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch external display, the A20 chip and C2 modem, a Touch ID button instead of Face ID, and dual rear cameras, with a rumored price tag of around $2,000. Apple's book-style foldable could be launched as the "iPhone Ultra," reports suggest.
See also: Apple Ultra products: Foldable iPhone and touchscreen MacBook Pro
The launch of a foldable iPhone could mark a new era for Apple as the company looks to expand its product lineup and compete with other manufacturers that have already entered the foldable device market. Users would have the opportunity to enjoy a new user experience, with a larger screen and increased portability, while organizations could benefit from the increased productivity capabilities such a device offers.
