Apple’s biggest tech news of the year! The first foldable iPhone is coming in September.

A blogger has leaked a mockup of Apple’s first horizontally foldable screen phone. The new phone is rumored to be named iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra and is expected to be officially released in September this year.

As Apple’s first mass-produced model in the foldable screen market, the new phone brings many new breakthroughs in appearance design, screen solution and body craftsmanship, making it one of the most anticipated new products in the smartphone market this year.

In terms of appearance, the new camera module features a pure white minimalist color scheme, continuing Apple’s high-end and simple design style.

It is understood that the mass-produced version will only offer two solid color options, following the release strategy of the original iPhone X. By simplifying the color scheme, production capacity will be concentrated on overcoming the new process challenges of foldable screens and hinges, ensuring the stability of mass production of the entire device.

The new phone adopts a horizontal folding design with a 2.5D micro-curved edge, making it more rounded and comfortable to hold. The rear dual-camera module follows the design language of the iPhone Air, and the overall body looks clean and neat with a high degree of recognition.

In terms of core hardware, the device features a custom Samsung LTPO OLED flexible screen and an industry-new liquid metal hinge with a structural strength 2.5 times that of titanium alloy. This effectively reduces screen creases and improves the lifespan and opening/closing feel of the foldable screen. However, the current mass production yield of this hinge technology is only 65%, making it extremely difficult to manufacture and a key bottleneck for the large-scale deployment of the new device.

The screen features a dual-screen design with clear specifications: a 5.49-inch external screen with a resolution of 2088 x 1422 when folded; and a 7.76-inch super-large internal screen with a resolution of 2713×1920 when unfolded. The unfolded body is only 4.8mm thick, demonstrating excellent slimness and lightness.

Meanwhile, the new phone features an under-display front camera solution, completely eliminating the notch and punch-hole, achieving Apple’s first true full-screen form factor and completing a major innovation in product design.

Editor’s Review:

Android foldable screen products have been iterating for years, and the ecosystem and technology are relatively mature. Although Apple’s entry into the market is late, its product strategy is very sound. The new phone does not blindly pile on hardware specifications, but focuses on core user pain points such as creases, thickness, and screen-to-body ratio, prioritizing optimization of the manufacturing process and mass production stability.

Leveraging Apple’s strong brand influence and the advantages of the iOS ecosystem, this new foldable phone is expected to disrupt the high-end foldable market. However, due to limitations in hinge manufacturing yield rates, initial supply is likely to be tight, and its final market performance will depend on real-world testing after the device is released.