A new rumor claims that the iPhone Fold's reported testing delays are because of significant issues with the hinge that could prevent Apple from launching it in 2026.
It's previously been reported that the expected iPhone Fold has entered manufacturing testing, but also that it has encountered problems. Initially, the only reports were of some unexpected issues, but then further rumors pointed to problems with the iPhone Fold's hinge.
Now, leaker Instant Digital on Chinese social media site Weibo claims to have backed this up. Specifically, he or she says that the issue is to do with failures after repeated opening and closing of the iPhone Fold.
Instant Digital's newest report does not say in what way the hinge fails, nor how soon the problem appears. There is a reference, in translation, to long-term and high-frequency opening and closing, but that relates to Apple's goal.
A version of the social media post is going around suggesting there is a rattle in the hinge. The translated version viewed by AppleInsider does not make such an assertion, though it could have been edited out.
So all that is claimed so far is that the iPhone Fold hinge is not meeting expectations. There's no indication of how serious the problem is, nor whether this is something that requires a significant redesign.
However, to be launched in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone Fold should presumably be passing these manufacturing tests about now. So any delay has the potential to push the launch back.
A report in April 2026 did say that Apple would be able to delay mass production of the iPhone Fold by up to two months without affecting the launch. But then at the same time, a separate Nikkei Asia report claimed that Apple has told suppliers that the iPhone Fold will be delayed until 2027.
Note that despite sometimes being markedly incomplete, such supply chain reports are generally more reliable than those from leakers. Then, too, Instant Digital in particular has a long but not very successful track record in Apple leaks.
