Apple’s first foldable iPhone has hit a major milestone. According to Weibo leaker Instant Digital, the iPhone Fold has now entered trial production at Foxconn — Apple’s primary manufacturing partner.
This is significant. Trial production is a key step on the road to full mass production. It means Apple is actively testing the assembly of the device, including its folding display and hinge mechanism, before committing to high-volume output.
What Is Trial Production?
Trial production is when a small number of units are built to test the manufacturing process. Engineers check that everything fits together correctly. They look for defects, tolerances, and any issues that could cause problems at scale.
If the iPhone Fold passes these tests, Foxconn will move to full mass production. The leaker suggests that folding screen production could begin in earnest around July 2026 — which aligns with the typical iPhone component production timeline.
Is the Launch Still on Track?
This news is encouraging, especially given recent reports suggesting the iPhone Fold could arrive later than the rest of the iPhone 18 lineup.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said the iPhone Fold will be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro at Apple’s September event. However, it will likely ship later — possibly as late as December 2026. The trial production news suggests the device is on schedule despite those shipping delays.
Apple has been refining its approach to foldable display technology for years. The company reportedly pursued eliminating the screen crease “regardless of cost,” eventually settling on a display solution from Samsung.
What to Expect from the iPhone Fold
The iPhone Fold is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen. It uses a wider 4:3 aspect ratio, giving it a shape more similar to an iPad than a traditional phone.
Apple also aims to make the device just 4.5mm thin when unfolded, which is an extremely ambitious target.
The device will reportedly run on an A20 Pro chip and will include Touch ID built into the power button rather than Face ID. The sensor stack needed for 3D face recognition is reportedly too thick for the foldable form factor.
This is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most ambitious hardware launches in years. The rest of the iPhone 18 lineup is expected to be revealed at WWDC 2026 in June — you can read our full preview at WWDC 2026 Preview: Siri 2.0 Chatbot, a Liquid Glass Slider, and the Biggest Apple Software Announcement in Years.
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