A new Chinese report released today claims Apple has sent foldable iPhones to assembly partner Foxconn for testing purposes, with a targeted release date of September 2022. Rumors about Apple’s development of a foldable iPhone date back to 2016.
The Economic Daily News (via MacRumors) claims its supply chain sources tell it the testing involves the evaluation of OLED and Micro-LED display technology, to decide which screen will be used, which will affect assembly methods.
Apple is also said to have asked Foxconn to evaluate the folding component of the devices, asking them to perform over 100,000 opening and closing tests. (Similar tests for laptops requires them to be opened and closed between 20,000 and 30,000 times.
While the report does not offer any additional information about the design of the alleged foldable handset, it notes that Samsung will be the supplier for the screen. That bit of information jibes with previous rumors that Apple has ordered foldable display samples from Samsung.
Leaker Jon Prosser in June claimed Apple is working on a foldable iPhone prototype that features two separate display panels connected by a hinge. Prosser says the foldable handset has rounded stainless steel edges lacking a notch but sporting a “tiny forehead” on the outer display for Face ID.
