Rumors about Apple’s foldable iPhone are giving me whiplash

So much excitement, followed by so much let down

And per Weibo leaker Instant Digital, the new model just hit a big development milestone. Per a new post today (translated):

The iPhone Fold has now begun trial production at Foxconn.

Foxconn is Apple’s primary partner for iPhone production. Moving into trial production with Foxconn means Apple is moving steadily toward mass production of the iPhone Fold.

I read the above story yesterday and would be lying if I didn’t admit I got excited. It’s really happening! So much excite!

I then filed it away, intending to write about it later in the week. This morning, when I woke up and, well.

Ben Lovejoy on 9to5Mac on Tuesday:

Engineering problems could further delay the launch A new Nikkei Asia report today says that Apple has encountered setbacks during the engineering test phase for the iPhone Fold.

Issues surrounding the engineering development of foldable iPhones are more complex and are taking more time to resolve than Apple had expected, and in the worst case scenario could delay the first shipment by months, according to multiple sources briefed on the matter.

The issue has been revealed in part by notifications to component suppliers that their production schedule may be pushed back, but Nikkei also cites apparent sources inside Apple.

“It’s true that more issues than expected have emerged during the early test production phase, and additional time will be needed to resolve them and make necessary adjustments. … The current situation could put the mass production timeline at risk,” one of the people familiar with the matter said.

Talk about whiplash. Yesterday everything was great, Apple’s foldable phone hit a huge milestone, and it could very well enter production to release alongside the rest of the iPhone 18 lineup in September.

The very next day, everything has fallen apart, and it’s possible it’s delayed into 2027.

I realize how hard it is to report on supply chain information and rumors, and often times it’s either flat out wrong or so severely delayed that it’s no longer accurate.

I think it’s unlikely that Apple entered trial production yesterday and less than a day later discovered a show stopping issue, but maybe that’s my personal hope that the foldable iPhone is released this year.