Kuo: Foldable iPhone to Feature Liquid Metal Hinges for Better Durability

[MacRumors]

Apple plans to use liquid metal in the hinges of its upcoming foldable iPhone to improve durability and reduce screen creasing, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple has reportedly chosen liquid metal, which is manufactured using a die-casting process, as a key component in addressing common issues with foldable devices. The design choice aims to enhance screen flatness and minimize the crease marks that typically plague folding displays.

Kuo notes that Apple has previously used liquid metal in smaller components like SIM ejector pins, but the foldable iPhone will mark the company's first major use of the material in a critical mechanical part. Dongguan EonTec will reportedly be the exclusive supplier of liquid metal.

Previous reports suggest Apple's foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded and a 5.5-inch cover display. The device is expected to adopt a book-style design similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, rather than a clamshell form factor.

According to earlier information from Kuo, the foldable iPhone may include two rear cameras, a single front-facing camera, and Touch ID integrated into the power button. The device could measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed.

Mass production is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, suggesting a potential launch in late 2026 or early 2027.

Article Link: Kuo: Foldable iPhone to Feature Liquid Metal Hinges for Better Durability

 

[Spike1999]

T1000 in small form factor...

 

[MayaUser]

rumours rumours that probably means nothing
The end product will speak for itself

 

[m.x]

Liquid metal... that's a name I haven't heard in ages. It gives me flashbacks to rumors of that time (Liquidmetal-Based iPhone 5 to Launch at WWDC in June?, or Liquidmetal Used in iPhone 3G SIM Tool, Next iPhone Too?). I can't believe thats more than 10 years ago, time really flies...

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

minimize the crease? nothing other than 0% crease by design, to the entire life span of the product, that should be the approach.

 

[contacos]

I can't wait for an Apple solution to be honest. I love mine. Never going back to a non fold phone.

 

[Reverend Benny]

"Previous reports suggest Apple's foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded and a 5.5-inch cover display. The device is expected to adopt a book-style design similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, rather than a clamshell form factor."


The iPhone 12 and 13 mini had a 5.42" inch screen, the X a 5.8". So something in between those folded up. Quite nice size for a phone tbh. Sure it will be bulkier but say it has less camera bulk it might still not be to bad.

Look forward to see what it looks like in public and more so, what OS will it be running.
My 5 cent is that we might se a merge between iPadOS and iOS again to "one" os again. Or maybe this will be a third Phone/iPad OS.

Folder its iOS style, open its iPad OS style.

If anyone can execute this its Apple since they own both SW and HW.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Will Skynet be sending these back in time?

Maybe they needed the extra cash so diversified into cell phones

 

[polyphenol]

Apple plans to use liquid metal in the hinges of its upcoming foldable iPhone to improve durability and reduce screen creasing, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple has reportedly chosen liquid metal, which is manufactured using a die-casting process, as a key component in addressing common issues with foldable devices. The design choice aims to enhance screen flatness and minimize the crease marks that typically plague folding displays.

Kuo notes that Apple has previously used liquid metal in smaller components like SIM ejector pins, but the foldable iPhone will mark the company's first major use of the material in a critical mechanical part. Dongguan EonTec will reportedly be the exclusive supplier of liquid metal.

Previous reports suggest Apple's foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded and a 5.5-inch cover display. The device is expected to adopt a book-style design similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, rather than a clamshell form factor.

According to earlier information from Kuo, the foldable iPhone may include two rear cameras, a single front-facing camera, and Touch ID integrated into the power button. The device could measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed.

Mass production is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, suggesting a potential launch in late 2026 or early 2027.

Article Link: Kuo: Foldable iPhone to Feature Liquid Metal Hinges for Better Durability

I'd rather have a line or even a gap rather than the sorts of crease I have seen on foldable devices.

Obviously, a perfectly crease and line free device would likely be better still.

No expert, but shouldn't the products derived from Caltech's research, and perpetually licensed by Apple, be Liquidmetal? Or does the use of two words imply this substance has a different intellectual and/or research lineage?

 

[thiscatisfat]

I never understood what do people do with these huge tables phones? Is it still a phone or is it a tablet? Or a tablet with a sim? I personally don't think a folding tablets would be what I consider "an iPhone".

 

[CausticSoda]

A lot of news on this recently... Is Apple leaking this stuff to take our minds off the AI fiasco, I wonder?

 

[EugW]

If mass production begins in 2026 Q4, it seems unlikely it would come out in 2026.

 

[Sathinator1]

Instead of tying to eliminate transparent creases, when is Apple going to eliminate the ugly non-transparent notches and oversize holes in their current iPhones and MacBooks?

 

[Veinticinco]

August 2024.

"The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 76 newly granted utility patents for Apple Inc. In this particular report we briefly cover a "Liquid Metal" related patent and another covering Spatial Audio. And as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of some of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple this week along with granted design patents for packaging.

Fluid Forming A Glass Component For A Portable Electronic Device

Apple's granted patent relates to techniques in which a fluid such as a liquid metal or a molten salt is used to shape a glass workpiece. Devices made this way could include a HomePod, Home Control device, an iMac, MacBook, iPad or iPhone.

Apple’s patent includes techniques that can be used to shape a glass workpiece to produce a three-dimensional glass component. By the way of example, the three-dimensional glass component may be a glass cover member or a glass housing.

Apple’s patent FIGS. 1A-B below are just two simple device examples of three-dimensional glass components that may be a glass cover member or a glass housing.

Apple’s invention is extensively covered over two patents: (#1: 20220193825) “Laser-Based Cutting of Transparent Components for an Electronic Device,” and (#2: 20220194841) “Fluid Forming a Glass Component for a Portable Electronic Device.”12064791.

 

[CausticSoda]

I never understood what do people do with these huge tables phones? Is it still a phone or is it a tablet? Or a tablet with a sim? I personally don't think a folding tables would be what I consider "an iPhone".

This is for people who want something the size of a phone in their pocket (that is their phone) that can be transformed into something with a larger screen. I've never understood why people find this a difficult concept to grasp and are so "anti". I'm not keen on one myself (at present at least) but I can understand entirely what it is for and why plenty of people will want it.

 

[antiprotest]

rumours rumours that probably means nothing
The end product will speak for itself

But this site is MacRumors.

 

[dannyyankou]

rumours rumours that probably means nothing
The end product will speak for itself

Why are you on a website called MacRumors?

 

[Veinticinco]

"but the foldable iPhone will mark the company's first major use of the material in a critical mechanical part."

And in a critical product release, no less.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[thiscatisfat]

This is for people who want something the size of a phone in their pocket (that is their phone) that can be transformed into something with a larger screen. I've never understood why people find this a difficult concept to grasp and are so "anti". I'm not keen on one myself (at present at least) but I can understand entirely what it is for and why plenty of people will want it.

I'm not anti, just wondering what people do with a phone this big. Where do you carry it? What do you do with it? Is it purely digital content digest that can't be done on a laptop or iPad or a TV? Is it even being used as a phone, an iPod and an internet communicator?

 

[doelcm82]

Liquid metal... that's a name I haven't heard in ages. It gives me flashbacks to rumors of that time (Liquidmetal-Based iPhone 5 to Launch at WWDC in June?, or Liquidmetal Used in iPhone 3G SIM Tool, Next iPhone Too?). I can't believe thats more than 10 years ago, time really flies...

I bought stock in LQMT based on those rumors. A lot of stock (but for not a lot of money). That stock is worth less now than then, since the rumors never panned out, but maybe now is when it breaks out and I can retire!

I bought at 40 cents a share, and now it's worth 4 cents. I kept it because it's hardly worth selling at that price.

I got tired of waiting, and retired anyway, almost ten years ago.

 

[TheSl0th]

August 2024.

"The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 76 newly granted utility patents for Apple Inc. In this particular report we briefly cover a "Liquid Metal" related patent and another covering Spatial Audio. And as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of some of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple this week along with granted design patents for packaging.

Fluid Forming A Glass Component For A Portable Electronic Device

Apple's granted patent relates to techniques in which a fluid such as a liquid metal or a molten salt is used to shape a glass workpiece. Devices made this way could include a HomePod, Home Control device, an iMac, MacBook, iPad or iPhone.

Apple’s patent includes techniques that can be used to shape a glass workpiece to produce a three-dimensional glass component. By the way of example, the three-dimensional glass component may be a glass cover member or a glass housing.

Apple’s patent FIGS. 1A-B below are just two simple device examples of three-dimensional glass components that may be a glass cover member or a glass housing.

Apple’s invention is extensively covered over two patents: (#1: 20220193825) “Laser-Based Cutting of Transparent Components for an Electronic Device,” and (#2: 20220194841) “Fluid Forming a Glass Component for a Portable Electronic Device.”12064791.

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Liquid metal (as in a metal in a liquid or molten state, which is what this patent refers to) is not the same as Liquidmetal, which is a particular metal alloy to which Apple has exclusive rights for use in consumer electronics.

Kuo made this rather ambiguous by writing ‘liquid metal’ but was clearly referring to the alloy Liquidmetal.

 

[doelcm82]

I'm not anti, just wondering what people do with a phone this big. Where do you carry it? What do you do with it? Is it purely digital content digest that can't be done on a laptop or iPad or a TV? Is it even being used as a phone, an iPod and an internet communicator?

You carry it in your pocket, because it folds down to the size of a large phone. You do the things you would do on a phone, and also the things you would do on a tablet.

If you don't do things on tablets or phones now, then this isn't for you.

 

[Adreitz]

Liquid metal (as in a metal in a liquid or molten state, which is what this patent refers to) is not the same as Liquidmetal, which is a particular metal alloy to which Apple has exclusive rights for use in consumer electronics.

Kuo made this rather ambiguous by writing ‘liquid metal’ but was clearly referring to the alloy Liquidmetal.

Exactly. Liquidmetal is a marketing term for amorphous metal, a.k.a metallic glass. It refers to a metal that has been cooled sufficiently quickly for its molecular structure to remain disordered like glass, not forming crystals. The disordered structure makes it difficult for cracks to form and propagate (breakage) and for the atoms to flow (plastic deformation), leading to a highly elastic and durable material. The alloy is chosen to slow down the crystal-forming process, making it easier to achieve the amorphous structure.

 

[iZac]

Does Apple still have exclusive rights on Liquidmetal?

I may be wrong but from my understanding this alloy is quite a brittle metal? So it wont deform but instead fail catastrophically. I guess that means less wonky folding phones, but maybe more that just snap in half?

 

[Mackan]

The reason Apple hasn't released a foldable phone is because they are busy for years trying to figure out how it won't cannibalize on their existing products. It's a huge part of their focus. E.g. contemplate why they don't allow 5G simcards in Mac laptops, or able to switch between iPad OS and Mac OS on an iPad. Apple isn't existing to make the greatest products. Just artifically castrated products.