Render of a potential iPhone Fold – Supply AppleInsider
After seven years of rolling rumors saying that it was for certain coming subsequent 12 months, the iPhone Fold is now in its manufacturing prototyping phrase, forward of an anticipated launch in 2026.
Unsurprisingly after so a few years of designing and manufacturing iPhones, Apple has a really particular means of prototyping that it follows, as completely revealed by AppleInsider. Now in accordance with DigiTimes, the iPhone fold prototype is in its first spherical of testing.
DigiTimes says that this testing is sooner than anticipated, nevertheless it seems to suit with latest claims that Apple anticipated mass manufacturing to start in summer season 2026. Whereas this suits with these most up-to-date different studies, it is nonetheless the case that the iPhone fold has been reportedly about to launch for a few years.
It is even been reported earlier than that Apple has had not only one, however two folding iPhone prototypes — and presumably extra. That’s, if Apple hasn’t deserted the entire concept.
Sure key particulars of the system are additionally often reported, comparable to how Apple goals to distinguish the iPhone fold from its rivals. In 2022, Apple was stated to be working with Samsung — which launched a folding telephone in 2019 — to make screens with no crease.
In 2025, it was nonetheless engaged on that crease-resistant display screen, and reportedly Samsung Show was on account of get the orders for it.
General, although, regardless of concrete examples of Apple’s curiosity comparable to patents overlaying complicated hinges for folding units, the one fixed has been that the iPhone fold is at all times a 12 months away.
That is the case with this newest report, too, though it is also not fairly clear how a lot of it’s merely repetition of earlier claims. DigiTimes, although, says it is primarily based on provide chain particulars.
These particulars embrace that the iPhone fold entered its first, P1, prototype testing throughout June 2025. As AppleInsider has beforehand documented, it sometimes takes two months for a tool to undergo this preliminary stage.
That stage is then ideally adopted by one or two extra prototyping exams, every of which once more takes round two months. If no vital issues are discovered, then in idea the iPhone fold ought to full prototype testing by November 2025.
What occurs subsequent
The iPhone fold will then enter the Engineering Validation Take a look at (EVT) stage. It is much less fastened how lengthy the EVT course of takes, as Apple will iterate by way of what it calls EVT-1, EVT-2, and so forth, till the system is taken into account handed.
There are then two additional phases, Design Validation Testing (DVT), and Manufacturing Validation Testing (PVT). The previous is anxious with additional testing of each {hardware} and software program, and DVT fashions could now be despatched out to carriers to trials.
By the point the system reaches PVT, it must be what is going to finally be offered to customers. However the PVT stage focuses on manufacturing, and particularly at manufacturing at scale, to make sure it may be mass-produced.
Whereas there isn’t any identified particular timescale for EVT, DVT, or PVT, the truth that the iPhone fold is now already within the first prototype stage suits with the anticipated mass manufacturing date. If all goes as deliberate, the iPhone fold will likely be in manufacturing alongside the iPhone 18 vary, and launch on the identical time.
Observe that this newest report is one other that claims Apple has briefly halted growth of an iPad fold.
