TechCapsules

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

After years of speculation and rumors, Apple has finally entered the production prototyping phase for its foldable iPhone, with an expected launch in 2026. The company has been working on the device for seven years, with various reports and patents filed along the way. According to DigiTimes, the iPhone fold prototype is currently in its first round of testing, known as the P1 prototype testing phase. This testing is reportedly earlier than expected, but it aligns with recent claims that Apple plans to begin mass production in the summer of 2026. The company's prototyping process is well-established, with a specific procedure followed for each new device. As exclusively revealed by AppleInsider, this process typically takes several months to complete. In the case of the iPhone fold, the P1 prototype testing phase began in June 2025 and is expected to last around two months. While there have been numerous reports of the iPhone fold's imminent launch over the years, the device has yet to materialize. In fact, it's been reported that Apple has had not one, but two folding iPhone prototypes, with some speculation that the project may have been abandoned altogether. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the device's launch, certain key details have been consistently reported. For example, Apple has been working with Samsung to develop screens without a crease, a feature that would differentiate the iPhone fold from its competitors. In 2022, it was reported that Apple was working on a crease-resistant screen, and in 2025, Samsung Display was expected to receive the orders for the screen. With the iPhone fold now in the production prototyping phase, it's likely that we'll see more concrete details about the device emerge in the coming months. While the launch is still a year away, Apple's progress on the device is a significant step forward in the development of a foldable iPhone.