Apple Foldable iPhone Risks 1-2 Month Delay as Hinge, Display Tests Stall

Q: What core features did Apple sacrifice to create its thinnest device ever amid production hurdles?

Apple appears to have traded away several flagship features to make the foldable iPhone its thinnest device yet, at roughly 4.5mm when unfolded. The clearest sacrifice is Face ID. Multiple supply-chain reports say the phone is too thin to fit Apple’s usual TrueDepth camera system, so it is expected to use Touch ID in the side button instead. Another major compromise is the camera system: the foldable model is widely expected to drop a dedicated telephoto lens, leaving a simpler setup to save internal space. Reports also point to other likely omissions tied to the ultra-thin design. MagSafe or a traditional wireless-charging implementation may be reduced or absent, and dummy-unit leaks have suggested no Action Button. Some reports also indicate an eSIM-only design, eliminating the physical SIM tray. These trade-offs come as Apple is still dealing with the harder engineering problems of foldables: hinge reliability and display durability. DigiTimes says those issues have delayed engineering validation by one to two months, even as Foxconn handles final production adjustments. So the device’s extreme thinness is not just a design choice; it is also part of a broader balancing act between form factor, durability and feature retention. In short, the core features most clearly sacrificed were Face ID and the telephoto camera, with MagSafe, the Action Button and the physical SIM slot also reportedly at risk or removed.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jul 23

DigiTimes said Apple’s foldable iPhone launch timing remains undecided after engineering validation hit bottlenecks that could push production back by one to two months.
Hinge structure and display durability testing are the main obstacles, even as Foxconn is making what supply-chain sources called final mass-production adjustments.
Foxconn is leading the device from new product introduction through mass production, with one industry source saying it is the only Apple partner likely to meet the roughly 10 million-unit target.
The report contrasts with signs of progress: Foxconn started trial production in April, Apple reportedly raised orders after hinge and circuit-board issues were resolved, and a report two weeks ago said mass production had already begun.
Apple still is expected to unveil the book-style device with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September, with a 7.7- to 7.8-inch inner screen and a starting price above $2,000.