And yet another leak claims to show a new foldable iPhone being opened and closed with plastic wrap still on it, perhaps at a factory or testing facility:<\/p>\n
\u82f9\u679c\u7b2c\u4e00\u53f0\u6298\u53e0\u5c4f iPhone<\/p>\n
\u5de5\u5382\u5b9e\u62cd\u6d41\u51fa\uff0c\u76ee\u524d\u6700\u6e05\u6670\u7684\u4e00\u6bb5 pic.twitter.com\/ofkK0kiL8V<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \u8001\u767d\uff08\u6bcf\u65e5\u5e72\u8d27\u5206\u4eab\u270a\uff09 (@laobaishare) June 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n What is liquid metal?<\/p>\n Liquid metal<\/a> \u2014 often described as an amorphous metal alloy \u2014 is notable for lacking the crystalline grain structure of ordinary metals. That structural difference gives it an unusually high strength-to-weight ratio. It features strong corrosion resistance and the ability to spring back from repeated bending without fatiguing, unlike conventional alloys.<\/p>\n Those elastic recovery properties make it well-suited for hinges and other moving parts, especially in foldable devices where fatigue resistance is essential to long-term durability. A foldable phone\u2019s hinge will likely open and close a huge number of times across its working life.\u00a0<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s history with the material<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s work with liquid metal goes back more than 15 years<\/a>. In 2010, the company signed an exclusive deal with Liquidmetal Technologies<\/a>, securing a perpetual worldwide license to use the material in consumer electronics.<\/p>\n Despite holding that license for quite a while, Apple has deployed liquid metal only in a handful of minor components. The only well-documented hardware use has been the SIM card ejector tool<\/a> that shipped with early iPhones. That\u2019s a small and unglamorous application of what was supposed to be a transformative material.<\/p>\n In the years since, Apple repeatedly extended aspects of its arrangement with Liquidmetal Technologies. But the material remained difficult to manufacture at scale for high-volume structural components and never saw significant product use. Liquid metal has nonetheless continued to appear in Apple patent applications for items like hinges and clasps.<\/p>\n A bumpy road to confirmation<\/p>\n The choice of hinge material (as opposed to other approaches<\/a>), and lingering questions about production delays, number among contested aspects of folding iPhone speculation<\/a> in recent months. Supply chain reports have differed on various details.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s post appears to go all in on liquid metal, however. The leaker described the hinge in confident terms rather than as an open question, signaling that the choice of material has been resolved in liquid metal\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n Where the first folding iPhone stands now<\/p>\n If true, the news that prototype folding iPhones have been dispatched to carriers globally marks a meaningful milestone. It indicates the hardware is mature enough to undergo the network compatibility and certification process that typically precedes a consumer launch.<\/p>\n Previous reports indicated mass production would begin in July, and Bloomberg\u2018s Mark Gurman said the device remains on course for a September debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.\u00a0<\/p>\n The foldable is expected to carry a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, Apple\u2019s A20 chip, Touch ID rather than Face ID, and a starting price in the region of $2,000.<\/p>\n David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.<\/p>\n With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com<\/a> network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.<\/p>\n Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University<\/a> with majors in magazine journalism<\/a> and psychology<\/a>. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.<\/p>\n Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline<\/a> and on Mastodon via @dsnow<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t \t\t ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/b72a0ee7687e463b317c9bf9a2d0b13874a8f3588a436f613245fe259ca6932f.jpeg\")
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