Apple has reportedly found the material that combines flexibility and strength for the hinge of its iPhone Fold. The device could be launched next year... an exorbitant price.
Rumors surrounding a foldable iPhone are multiplying, and recently, it's the hinge of this device that everyone's looking at. We reported a few days ago that Apple had chosen liquid metal as a material in order to avoid crease marks as much as possible while ensuring comfortable folding, and now Chinese leaker Instant Digital has added his stone to the edifice.
According to him, the hinge of this iPhone Fold will indeed be made of metallic glass (amorphous metal alloy), another term for liquid metal. Unlike most other materials, its atomic structure is not crystalline, but amorphous. This is achieved by rapidly cooling the liquid metal through contact with the metal mold.
A strong and durable hinge for the iPhone Fold
This technology gives the material an elastic character, which can be deformed more easily without losing strength. This type of alloy is particularly durable, up to 2.5 times more than titanium alloy, for example. Aesthetically, it can resemble stainless steel with its smooth and shiny texture. It is known that Apple has still not launched a foldable iPhone due to concerns about its efficiency and durability. of the hinge, as well as the fold marks left on the screen. Liquid metal should be the answer to this design challenge.
This type of material has already been used by Apple, but for much less critical components, such as the pins used to eject the SIM card from the device. This would be the first time that the manufacturer has used it for such an important part of an iPhone. The Chinese company Dongguan EonTec would be responsible for supplying this amorphous metal alloy to the Apple brand.
The iPhone Fold could be equipped a 7.8-inch main screen when the device is unfolded, supported by a 5.5-inch external display for folded use. The design should be very close to the book format, popularized in particular by Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold. The smartphone could be marketed in 2026 at a price of around 2,000 US dollars excluding tax.
Source: Instant Digital
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