Apple's Foldable iPhone Production to Start Late 2025

Apple's renowned analyst has revealed that the company's supplier, Hon Hai Precision Industry, is expected to commence production of the highly anticipated foldable iPhone in the latter part of this year. The production is slated to begin either at the end of the third quarter or the start of the fourth quarter of 2025. This revelation comes as a significant development in the tech industry, as Apple has been rumored to be working on a foldable device for some time.

While many component specifications, such as the hinge bearings, are yet to be finalized, the foldable display has been confirmed. Samsung Display is reportedly planning to manufacture between 700 million and 800 million foldable panels for this device next year. The foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.76-inch internal display with a hole-free design, which has generated considerable excitement among tech enthusiasts.

This move by Apple is seen as a strategic response to the growing trend of foldable devices in the market, with competitors already having established products in this category. The production timeline and specifications suggest that Apple is aiming to deliver a high-quality, innovative product that could potentially set new standards in the foldable smartphone segment.

The analyst also mentioned that the foldable iPhone is expected to be priced at a premium. Previous predictions suggested that the device could be priced between 2000 and 2500 dollars, although this estimate was made before the onset of trade wars.

Recent market rumors suggest that Apple has ordered between 15 million and 20 million units of the foldable iPhone. However, the analyst believes that this quantity may reflect the cumulative demand over a 2-3 year product lifecycle, rather than just for the year 2026. This indicates that the foldable iPhone, expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2026, may see shipments in the hundreds of millions annually in 2027 and 2028.

The high price point of the foldable iPhone may limit its sales volume. In contrast, Apple sold approximately 37 million units of the iPhone 16 during the first weekend of pre-orders last September. The analyst cautioned that all plans are subject to change until the project is officially launched. Previous reports indicated that Apple intended to release the foldable iPhone in the autumn of 2026.

The analyst also revealed that Apple's foldable screen production line will continue to iterate, with the second-generation foldable iPhone expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2027. This ongoing development underscores Apple's commitment to innovation and its efforts to stay at the forefront of the tech industry.