Apple’s first foldable iPhone will boast an innovative liquid metal hinge and prototype units have been shipped to carriers around the world for testing, according to the well-known leaker “Fixed Focus Digital.”
The information was included in a new post on Weibo from the leaker. He said development and production related to the foldable are now “progressing rapidly.”
Latest confirmation: Apple has chosen a liquid metal hinge solution for its foldable screen.
Furthermore, research and development are progressing rapidly, and prototypes have already been sent to carriers worldwide for testing.
Using liquid metal, which is manufactured using a die-casting process, as a key component in the hinges should allow Apple to address issues users commonly experience with foldable devices. It is expected to provide better screen flatness, and minimize the crease marks commonly seen in foldable displays.
While Apple has used liquid metal for minor components, such as SIM ejector pins, using it for the hinges on a foldable iPhone would mark the first time the company has used the material for a critical mechanical part.
In March 2025, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple is planning to use liquid metal as a key component of the hinges it will use on its upcoming foldable iPhone.
Rumors about the foldable iPhone’s say it will feature a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover display, be powered by an A20 chip, wil use Apple’s own C2 modem, will have Touch ID in place of Face ID, and two rear cameras
Kuo has previously said the foldable iPhone may include two rear cameras, a single front-facing camera, and Touch ID integrated into the power button. The device could measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed.
Mass production of the first foldable iPhone is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, suggesting a possible late 2026 or early 2027 release. The price is expected to start at around $2,000.
