A new supply-chain leak says Apple is still testing ways to build a foldable iPhone with an invisible crease. Rivals may ship first; Apple targets next fall.
© A. Krivonosov
Apple is still experimenting with a foldable iPhone, and a new supply-chain leak suggests the company has yet to solve its biggest challenge: making the display crease essentially invisible. That pursuit, according to sources, is also why Apple has stayed off the foldable market for so long.
The latest report indicates Apple continues to test different engineering approaches without hitting the mark. The plan remains to unveil a foldable iPhone whose fold line is visually imperceptible, but such a panel is currently out of reach. Even so, the company is said to be aiming for a workable method ahead of a tentative announcement expected next fall.
Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone makers are actively pursuing similar technology. If supply and manufacturing go smoothly, they could be first to ship a foldable with a truly seamless crease, pulling ahead of Apple. That raises the competitive stakes, especially with expectations that the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 will feature an even subtler crease than the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Analysts note the crease is no longer the headache it was a few years ago. In modern flagship foldables, it is barely noticeable in everyday use and mainly reveals itself at certain angles and under bright light. Apple, however, seems intent on a flawless result, a goal that looks more about technological prestige than a pressing user need.
That stance carries a risk: the market may move on while Apple’s own foldable iPhone slips past the stated window. If a crease-free display remains unattainable by 2026, the company may have to scale back its ambitions or ship with a solution competitors already consider sufficient. In a fast-moving category, waiting for flawless can cost more than releasing something that is already good enough.