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Journalism of Courage
Apple is often late to adopt new technology, but speculation has it that the tech giant is planning to reinvent the iPhone with a new book-style foldable phone rumoured to launch next year. The Cupertino-based phone maker is also said to have solved the biggest problem associated with foldable devices, with the iPhone Fold reportedly sporting a “crease-free design”.
Now, a new machine translated report by the Chinese publication Economic Daily suggests that Foxconn, one of the biggest iPhone makers, has “established a dedicated production line for foldable iPhones”. It goes on to say that the device has now passed the experimental stage and is being moved to pre-mass production.
The report also claims that Apple will name the upcoming device “iPhone Fold”. As it turns out, the inner display will be exclusively made by Samsung, while Apple itself designs the hinge, panel structure and lamination methods. To increase durability, Apple will reportedly use hinge components made of liquid metal, which enhances toughness while maintaining a “delicate feel when holding the device.”
A previous report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman hinted that the iPhone Fold will have a 7.8-inch internal display and sport a 5.5-inch external screen. The device is expected to be somewhere between 9 and 9.5mm when folded. It may pack a total of four cameras – two 48MP shooters on the back and one on the inner and outer screen. Also, Apple may resort to Touch ID to avoid packing in two Face ID components.
Gurman had previously said that the iPhone Fold would cost well over $2,000, but now several reports hint that it may be priced somewhere around the $2,400 to $2,500 mark. This means that the iPhone Fold will be significantly more expensive compared to foldable Android phones from Samsung, vivo, Oppo, Motorola and others. If true, it would also make the iPhone Fold the most expensive smartphone Apple has ever made.
