Foldable iPhone Being Tested by Foxconn, Aiming for 2022 Release

Foxconn, one of Apple’s pivotal suppliers, is reportedly testing a foldable iPhone for future release. The new model is being positioned to be released in late 2022.

It’s been widely rumoured that Apple has been working on a foldable iPhone unit for years at this point. Countering the numerous foldable smartphones from Samsung, LG, and others, many believed it would be only a matter of time before Apple joined the fray.

The concept of a foldable iPhone has been gaining traction in a recent report from Chinese outlet United Daily News. Apple Insider translated the piece, which says that Apple has asked Foxconn to begin testing the screen for a foldable iPhone model. Foxconn is also testing the unit’s bearings. Though, they will come from multiple suppliers before being assembled by Foxconn once mass production begins.

For the time being, Foxconn will be testing the durability of the screen and bearings. Testing bearings on a laptop typically requires a rigorous phase of opening and closing the device 20,000-30,000 times. However, Foxconn will be testing the foldable iPhone with a reported 100,000 open and close tests.

The release of such a device is still a few years away. United Daily News is projecting that the foldable iPhone will be released in 2022. The outlet’s sources have pointed to a release close to Apple’s traditional September window.