Why was the foldable iPhone delayed just because of a small detail?

(Dan Tri) - The iPhone Fold, Apple's first foldable screen phone, will likely be delayed until 2027 due to a detail in the product design.

Foldable screen iPhone launch postponed until 2027

Information about Apple's first foldable screen phone has long appeared in the form of rumors, but in reality, the product has not yet been launched.

Recent leaks suggest that Apple will launch its first foldable iPhone next year, alongside the iPhone 18 series. However, it is likely that the phone will continue to be delayed until at least 2027.

Users will have to wait another 2 years to have the chance to own a foldable iPhone? (Illustration: X).

Accordingly, Japanese securities company Mizuho Securities has informed its clients that the iPhone Fold will be delayed until 2027 and predicts that this will affect Apple's stock price in the future.

The reason Apple had to delay the launch of the foldable iPhone stemmed from the fact that the company had not yet been able to decide on the technical specifications and especially had not yet completed the hinge design on the product.

Hinge - the "backbone" of foldable screen smartphones

For foldable screen smartphones, the screen hinge plays an extremely important role, considered the "backbone" of the device because it will directly affect the durability, experience and aesthetics of the device.

The hinge plays an extremely important role in foldable screen smartphones (Photo: How to Geek).

The reason for this is because the hinge is not only the part that connects the two folding screen parts, but also the part responsible for the folding and opening process of the screen, so it must be able to operate for a long time without damage.

In addition, OLED screens on foldable smartphones are very fragile, so the hinge needs to be precisely designed to increase screen durability, while reducing screen creases that cause discomfort to users.

The design of the hinge also plays an important role in whether or not a foldable smartphone can be equipped with water and dust resistance features.

Apple is said to use a special hinge designed by the company to minimize the folds on the product screen. This is considered an advantage for the foldable iPhone to compete with rivals, in the context that Apple has been slow in the foldable smartphone segment.

Expect a breath of fresh air into the foldable smartphone market

Mizuho Securities said the iPhone Fold will have a 5.38-inch outer display and a 7.58-inch display when expanded. This size is relatively small compared to other foldable smartphones on the market, such as the Galaxy Z Fold7, which currently has a 5.49-inch outer display and an 8-inch display when expanded.

Mizuho Securities also predicts that Apple plans to ship between 5 and 7 million iPhone Fold units, despite previous rumors that Apple had asked its partners to prepare 13 million screen components to prepare for the iPhone Fold production process.

Currently, the foldable phone market is still bustling with new products being launched continuously, but market analysts predict that foldable smartphones will only account for about 1.5% of the total global mobile market in 2025. As of the end of the second quarter of this year, Huawei is still the company with the largest foldable smartphone sales in the world , accounting for 45% of the market share.

If Apple does indeed join the foldable smartphone race, it is likely that this market segment will become more vibrant and sales in the foldable smartphone market will improve.

Of course, all information about the foldable iPhone is still just a rumor, as up to now Apple has shown no signs that it will enter the foldable smartphone market, because the iPhone with its traditional bar design is still achieving good sales, helping Apple "make money".

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/vi-sao-iphone-man-hinh-gap-bi-hoan-ra-mat-chi-vi-mot-chi-tiet-nho-20251020013500166.htm