IPhone Fold 2026, Could Be The First Foldable Without Folding Lines

IPhone Fold has now entered the engineering validation stage (photo: x @leakpt)

JAKARTA - Apple seems ready to enter the foldable phone market with a major breakthrough. The latest report says that the iPhone Fold, which is scheduled to launch in 2026, has the potential to become the world's first foldable smartphone without folding lines on its screen. By combining a special structural design, Liquid Metal hinge, as well as a screen panel from Samsung Display, Apple is reportedly successfully creating a really smooth foldable display.

Over the years, the foldable industry has always struggled with one classic problem: a clear-looking folding line in the middle of the screen. Although various large producers like Samsung have been trying to fix it from generation to next generation, the line remains an unavoidable shortcoming. But reports from Chinese media, UDN, citing supply chain sources, reveal that Apple may find solutions that other competitors have not succeeded in achieving.

According to the report, the iPhone Fold has now entered the engineering validation stage, an important phase that indicates the device is getting closer to mass production. If there are no obstacles, Apple is said to be ready to launch its folding phone in September 2026.

The key to this success lies in Apple's different approach from its competitors. Instead of trying to disguise the folding line, Apple actually overcomes it as a structural problem that requires a comprehensive solution.

This approach involves in-depth cooperation with various manufacturing partners, including Samsung Display which develops special display panels, as well as Amphenol which produces high-quality hinges.

Apple's adopted solution includes hinges with a Liquid Metal component that are known to be very strong, corrosive, and remains light. In addition, Apple is said to use an internal metal plate system designed to distribute pressure precision when the screen is folded.

By managing stress at the microscopic level, this structure allows the screen to fold without creating a permanent curve an approach completely different from the hidden folds'' method used by most other manufacturers.

In addition to technical innovation, the iPhone Fold is also said to come with a very thin premium design and profile. When opened, this device is estimated to be only 4.5 to 4.8 mm thick, making it one of the thinest foldables in its class. This device is reportedly using a 5.5-inch outer screen, while the inside screen offers a 7.8-inch size like a tablet.

But major innovations usually come at the same price. Analysts predict that the iPhone Fold may be marketed in the range of 2,000 to 2,500 US dollars, making it one of the most expensive Apple devices ever released. This high price reflects the material complexity and structural engineering used to achieve a foldless design.

If this claim is proven, Apple has the potential to attract many users who have been hesitant to switch to folding phones due to concerns about folding lines and screen resistance. With a seamless visual experience combined with Apple's ecosystem, the iPhone Fold could be an important momentum that makes foldable eventually enter the mainstream. Even so, like the Apple Vision Pro, market revenues rely heavily on whether the premium price is deemed commensurate to consumers.