A new rumor coming out of China claims that Apple has suspended its development of a foldable iPhone after supplier displays failed during the company’s stringent testing.
Tech Video blogger Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo said Apple has been testing rival foldable phones as part of its research and development process into foldable devices.
Ahem… Apple is accelerating the research and development of folding screen products, and has purchased equipment sold by several friends for disassembly and research. However, it is said that the project has been temporarily suspended because Display failed to test the screen
At least one of the foldables tested by Apple is said to have a Samsung-mad display. Samsung is a major display provider for Apple and has reportedly provided foldable display samples to Apple. Samsung has been manufacturing foldable displays since 2019.
However, Fixed Focus Digital claims that Samsung’s latest folding panels “broke down after a few days” under Apple’s rigorous internal testing, causing Apple to put the entire project on hold for the foreseeable future.
Earlier this month, a report from The Information said Apple is continuing to develop folding iPhone models, actively building prototypes of at least two foldable models, following more than five years of research and development.
The report, citing individuals said to have “direct knowledge” of the project, said the two prototypes fold like a clamshell phone. The devices are still in the early stages of development, and 2026 is the earliest possible release time frame.