The iPhone Fold has entered the next stage of production after what is said to be a “breakthrough” in eliminating the crease normally seen in folding phones when they are laid flat.
Although the display is being made by Samsung, several elements are said to have been designed by Apple and will be unique to the device …
Eliminating the crease
Folding phones have been around for seven years now, but have suffered from a number of problems. These include the display being vulnerable to damage when dust gets trapped in the device when it’s folded, and an ugly crease visible in the center of the screen when it is unfolded.
A report earlier this year said that this problem had been solved, and Apple was happy with the samples it had received from display partner Samsung after rejecting previous iterations provided by the Korean company.
Apple heavily involved in solving the problem
UDN reports that Apple was heavily involved in redesigning both the panel and the fold mechanism in order to eliminate the crease.
It is rumored that Apple has made breakthrough progress in the development of folding iPhone, solving the most criticized crease problem of non-Apple folding machines in the past, achieving a “crease-free design” […]
The inner screen is exclusively supplied by Samsung, but the panel structure, material processing process and laminated pressing method are all designed by Apple, and the key component bearings are also shared by Apple and two suppliers, New Rixing and Amfeno. Development, so that when the panel and bearing are integrated, the permanent creases of the traditional folding machine in the middle of the screen can be avoided.
iPhone Fold moves to the next production stage
The report also says that the project has now moved into the second phase of production, known as engineering validation or verification testing (EVT).
It is reported that Honghai Group has established an exclusive production line for folding iPhone, which shows that folding iPhone is no longer in the experimental stage, but has entered the engineering verification and pre-production process
This is the stage after initial prototypes, combining the functionality of the final device with something that looks much more like a real product. Typically around a hundred or so units will be made at this stage in order to allow for testing.
The iPhone Fold, which the company may choose to brand as the iPhone Ultra, is expected to be extremely expensive, with one recent report suggesting it may be priced as high as $2,400. We’re expecting the device to go on sale sometime next year.
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