Apple gets ready to fold iPhone, plans trial production in Taiwan
Has Apple really run out of surprises? Image c/o: Jacinta Iluch Valero/Flickr
Apple is going to release a foldable iPhone next year, so perhaps it’s no surprise that it is speaking with manufacturers in Taiwan to start a pilot production run for the device.
This is exciting news as it suggests the foldable iPhone could make its debut next year. We’ve previously even heard the company may introduce the device as soon as next year’s second quarter, though my jury remains out on that.
The production test is required to identify any unanticipated production flaws before Apple begins to build full-scale factory production of the thing. The company wants to verify and fine-tune the process ahead of deployment in India. There are some problems, principally around staffing and location of the new test production line, which Nikkei says will need around a thousand people to run.
After over a decade in R&D, Apple’s folding iPhone seems to be inching toward an introduction next year, and it’s thought the display will be made in India by Samsung. The latest report claims the 7.8-inch device will have four cameras, an eSIM for network connectivity, and perhaps an Apple modem.
Apple is expecting the introduction of the device will spur additional demand for all the other iPhones in its fleet. Apple has increased its production orders of all iPhones next year to 95 million, up 10% on this year. It is also interesting to note the positive reception enjoyed by the company’s latest range of iPhones, which analysts all assess as seeing more success than Apple did last year. Morgan Stanley, for example, says demand for the iPhone 17 is stronger than it was for iPhone 16 at this point in the cycle last year in every market. It looks as if the new iPhone design will spur demand even higher.
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