O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: iPhone Fold

  • IDC report indicates that iPhone Fold could take significant chunk of the foldable market in its first year, help push the product out of the niche market

    IDC report indicates that iPhone Fold could take significant chunk of the foldable market in its first year, help push the product out of the niche market

    Apple could take a surprisingly large chunk of the foldable smartphone market with its forthcoming release of the rumored iPhone Fold.

    Per a new report published by IDC, the foldable smartphone market could see huge 30 percent year-over-year gains driven by the “game-changer” of the iPhone Fold.

    From IDC’s new foldable smartphone report:

    “Next year will prove exciting for the foldable category with multiple launches pushing the market to 30 percent YoY growth from just 6 percent in the prior forecast,” said Nabila Popal, senior research director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

    “Samsung will kick start 2026 with the Galaxy Z Trifold, introducing tri-fold innovation to mainstream global consumers, building off the momentum of the successful Galaxy Z Fold7 in 2025. Huawei’s foldables running on HarmonyOS Next will also see strong growth, with shipments expected to almost double in 2026. But the real game-changer for the category comes at year-end when Apple enters the foldable space, projected to capture over 22 percent unit share and a staggering 34 percent of the foldables market value in its first year, thanks to an expected average price point of $2,400.”

    While foldable smartphones have been around for roughly seven years, they’re still considered a niche product with a small market share. Apple’s Fold unit could help break them out of that niche slot.

    Still, success is certainly no guarantee. This year, the iPhone Air launched as a brand-new model that has disappointed in sales, despite user feedback appearing strong.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and IDC

  • Rumor: iPhone 18 Pro to feature reduced notch, under-display Face ID authentication system

    Rumor: iPhone 18 Pro to feature reduced notch, under-display Face ID authentication system

    While rumors of Apple incorporating an under-display Face ID system are nothing new, a new leak has sparked the idea that Apple plans to debut the feature in the iPhone 18 Pro model come 2026.

    The new rumor, which surfaced from a leaked named “Smart Pikachu” on the Chinese social media site Weibo, claims that Apple is testing a new process that would enable it. Depending on the machine translation used, the technology is either “stitching” or “spliced” micro-transparent glass.

    The rumor seems to indicate a process similar to certain existing techniques. Micro-perforated, or nano-patterned glass, has previously been used to boost IR transmission.

    The leaker, in turn, has stated that the process is currently far enough along in testing that Apple’s supply chain is preparing for production.

    At present, Smart Pikachu has no track record in Apple reports, but the leaker is said to have been previously accurate with Android hardware leaks.

    Leaker Smart Pikachu has no track record in Apple reports. However, he or she is said to have previously been accurate with Android hardware leaks.

    The current leak about the Face ID system under the iPhone display would presumably reduce the need for a notch. The notch system, at present, also contains an ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor, and the iPhone’s front camera.

    Where the iPhone Fold is concerned, the rumor mill has been making similar claims about an under-display Face ID for the model. According to noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Fold won’t contain this system, especially given how each half of the iPhone Fold must necessarily be thinner than the current iPhones.

    Consequently, Kuo believes that the iPhone Fold will have Touch ID on a side button — as the iPad Air does now.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider, Weibo, and MacRumors

  • Rumor: Apple, Intel deal could see Intel begin to manufacture some iPhone chips in the next few years

    Rumor: Apple, Intel deal could see Intel begin to manufacture some iPhone chips in the next few years

    Following up on reports that Intel may start manufacturing chips for some Mac and iPad units over the next few years, a new rumor states that the partnership could extend to manufacturing chips for the iPhone.

    Per MacRumors, a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues “now expect” Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028.

    The non-pro iPhone chips would be manufactured with Intel’s future 14A process, according to Pu.

    While the research note didn’t list specifics as to the potential plan, it did offer a timeframe in which Intel could start supplying Apple with the A22 chip for devices like the “iPhone 20” and “iPhone 20e” around three years from now.

    There’s no further indication of Intel’s role in designing the iPhone chips, and its involvement could be strictly limited to fabrication. Apple, in turn, would continue to design the iPhone chips, and Intel would start to handle a smaller percentage of manufacturing alongside Apple’s primary chipmaker, TSMC.

    Intel supplying Apple-designed, Arm-based chips would differ from the era of Intel-based Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture.

    Such a deal between Intel and Apple would allow Apple to diversify its supply chain with an American manufacturing company.

    Intel previously supplied Apple with cellular modems for some iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 models.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors

  • Rumor: The iPhone Fold could enter the marketplace for about the same price as a 16-inch MacBook Pro

    Rumor: The iPhone Fold could enter the marketplace for about the same price as a 16-inch MacBook Pro

    Apple’s foldable iPhone could hit the market in the same price range as a 16-inch MacBook Pro notebook.

    According to supply chain analysis focused on the cost of core components, as a foldable display remains one of the most expensive parts in modern computing hardware, especially when it needs to bend repeatedly without creasing or discoloration.

    The hinge system adds another layer of cost because it must stay tight and reliable after years of opening and closing. Lightweight materials push the number higher.

    At present, the analysis, combined with Apple’s usual margin targets, places the speculated price between $2,000 and $2,500.

    The forecast suggests a 2026 release, aligning with Apple’s annual cycle. The timing allows for durability testing, as foldable designs require more engineering time.

    Other companies entered the foldable device market earlier, but were sometimes greeted with complaints about cracked screens and fragile hinges. Apple historically avoids rushed debuts and waits until a new technology matures. The potential release would also land in a cooling smartphone market. Upgrade cycles have slowed, and consumers aren’t replacing phones as quickly as they did in the 2010s.

    Present forecasts for mass-market adoption project a 7 percent penetration rate with 15.4 million units being sold over the product’s lifetime. It’s thought that roughly 5.4 million units could be sold for 2026, with early adopters and luxury buyers carrying the first wave as usual, and Apple has experience selling premium devices to a smaller audience.

    Interestingly, the supply chain forecast also points to a significant camera change in 2026, and it’s thought that the iPhone 18 series will adopt a variable aperture lens, which would be supplied by a single specialized partner. A variable aperture lets the camera adjust naturally between bright and low light, improving depth control and night shots.

    Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold, which could enter the market at approximately $2,399, would also face competition from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, which typically retails for about $1,700, as well as Google’s Pixel Fold, which sells for about $1,800.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and investing.com

  • Rumor: Apple may have resolved iPhone Fold crease issue, entered new stage of development and production

    Rumor: Apple may have resolved iPhone Fold crease issue, entered new stage of development and production

    Apple’s purported iPhone Fold project may have hit a new milestone, as the creasing issue that is said to have plagued R&D may have been resolved.

    Per supply chain sources close to the story, the iPhone Fold, which is anticipated to launch in either 2026 or 2027 and have a book-like flexible screen, could have seen a breakthrough in the issue. If so, this would make the iPhone the first with a true crease-free design.

    The crease issue has long been an issue in the existing foldable smartphone market, wherein a frequently flexed section of the screen develops a visible crease, which can lead to cracking and eventually break the screen entirely. Solving the creasing problem will increase the life of the iPhone Fold as well as improve the user experience. Previous reports had indicated that Apple was making progress on improving the issue.

    Where production is concerned, longtime Apple manufacturer Foxconn has reportedly created a production line for the iPhone Fold. If true, this would indicate that the handset has exited the prototyping phase and entered the engineering verification process.

    While it’s unknown as to exactly what Apple’s done to fix the crease problem, it’s thought that this may involve a component that relies on supply chain partners to produce. Samsung is reported to have supplied the folding inner display, while Apple is claimed to have actually designed the panel structure, material processing, and lamination method.

    Apple also worked with two suppliers, Shin Zu Shing and Amphenol, to integrate the panel and the bearing for the hinge. There is also the belief that Apple has included high-strength hinge components produced using liquid metal, minimizing deformation compared to other materials.

    The current rumors for the iPhone Fold handset include a 7.8-inch folding display, accompanied by a 5.5-inch external display for use while the smartphone is folded up.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and money.udn.com