Apple ships foldable iPhone prototypes to carriers worldwide, leaker says

Apple ↗0.70% has sent foldable iPhone prototypes to wireless carriers globally for network testing, leaker Fixed Focus Digital claimed on Weibo.macrumors
The device’s hinge reportedly uses liquid metal alloys to reduce display creasing, with production delayed but a September 2026 launch still targeted.macrumors
Dubbed iPhone Ultra, the book-style foldable is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and pricing starting near $2,000, according to supply chain reports.macworld

Foldable iPhone Ultra Confirmed to Use Liquidmetal Hinge as Prototypes Reach Carriers

Apple’s first foldable iPhone will feature a liquid metal hinge and has already shipped prototype units to wireless carriers worldwide for network testing, according to a new claim from Chinese supply chain leaker Fixed Focus Digital posted on Weibo on Monday, June 1.macrumors

The leak marks the latest milestone in the device’s march toward a September 2026 launch, with Fixed Focus Digital stating that “research and development and production are progressing rapidly, and prototypes have already been sent to carriers worldwide for testing.”9to5mac

A 15-Year-Old Technology Finds Its Moment

Apple acquired exclusive rights to Liquidmetal Technologies’ amorphous metal alloys in 2010 but has used the material sparingly, most notably in SIM ejection tools. The foldable iPhone represents by far its most ambitious application of the technology.hothardware

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first reported in March 2025 that the foldable iPhone’s hinge would use liquid metal, with Dongguan EonTec named as the exclusive supplier of the alloy. The material is valued for its resistance to deformation and its potential to reduce or eliminate the display crease that has plagued competing foldable devices from Samsung and others.tomsguide

Production Challenges Persist

The path to launch has not been entirely smooth. MacRumors reported on May 18 that trial production had stalled over hinge reliability concerns, with the component failing to meet Apple’s quality standards under high-frequency folding tests. Fixed Focus Digital followed up on May 26 with a clarification that the real bottleneck had shifted to surface-mount technology yields during pre-assembly, not the hinge itself.macrumors

DigiTimes reported in April that mass production had slipped by one to two months but that the fall 2026 launch window remains intact, with manufacturing now expected to begin in July or August. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has separately reported the device remains on track for a September debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.the-gadgeteer

What to Expect

The device, expected to be called either the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold, will feature a book-style design with a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, the A20 chip, Apple’s custom C2 modem, Touch ID, and two rear cameras. Pricing is widely expected to start near $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone ever produced.macworld