Apple’s Foldable iPhone May Use Liquid Metal, Titanium
▼ Summary
– Apple’s first foldable iPhone will reportedly use a liquid metal hinge, an amorphous material the company has researched for over 15 years.
– The device’s main body will utilize a revised titanium alloy designed to increase strength and reduce weight compared to current titanium iPhone frames.
– Liquid metal is suitable for hinges due to its high strength, fatigue resistance, and ability to withstand repeated stress, but has been historically difficult to scale for large components.
– Titanium’s favorable strength-to-weight ratio is crucial for foldable designs, which require managing weight around the hinge, and Apple has iterated on the alloy over several iPhone generations.
– The foldable iPhone is rumored to launch in fall 2025 with a book-style design, featuring a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, and Apple’s A20 chip.
Rumors surrounding Apple’s first foldable iPhone point to a device built with groundbreaking materials designed to solve the unique challenges of a folding design. New supply chain information suggests the hinge will be crafted from liquid metal, while the main chassis will utilize a next-generation titanium alloy. This combination aims to deliver unprecedented durability and a lighter overall device, addressing common concerns with current foldable smartphones.
The hinge mechanism, a critical component for any foldable, is reportedly set to be made from liquid metal. This is an amorphous material Apple has held an exclusive license to use in consumer electronics since 2010. While the company has previously used it only for small parts like SIM ejector tools, its properties make it ideal for a hinge. Liquid metal lacks a crystalline structure, granting it exceptional strength, resistance to permanent deformation, and the ability to withstand repeated mechanical stress. These characteristics are vital for a hinge that must endure thousands of folds and unfolds without failing, offering the fatigue resistance and spring-like behavior essential for long-term reliability.
For the device’s body, Apple is said to be moving beyond the titanium used in recent iPhone Pro models. The foldable iPhone will apparently employ a revised titanium material. The goal is to enhance strength while simultaneously reducing weight compared to existing titanium frames, even with a similar surface area. This is a crucial advancement, as foldable designs are inherently larger and require careful weight distribution, especially around the pivotal hinge area. Titanium already provides a superior strength-to-weight ratio versus aluminum or stainless steel, but this new alloy and manufacturing process could push those benefits even further. This project would represent Apple’s fourth major iteration with titanium in iPhones, allowing significant refinement of the alloy’s composition for optimal performance in a folding form factor.
The device itself is anticipated to launch later this year. Current speculation describes a book-style foldable with a large, crease-free 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen for basic functionality when closed. It is expected to be powered by Apple’s next-generation A20 chip and feature the company’s in-house C2 modem, two rear cameras, and a potential return of Touch ID integrated into the power button. This material-focused approach indicates Apple’s strategy to enter the foldable market not just with another device, but with one engineered to set a new standard for build quality and endurance.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
