Foxconn begins trial production of Apple’s first foldable iPhone, expected to be its priciest ever

It has been reported that Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry, 鸿海精密) has begun trial production of Apple (苹果)’s first foldable iPhone, with a commercial launch reportedly targeted for the second half of 2026. Sources familiar with the matter told media the device will be a horizontal, “book‑style” foldable and is expected to carry Apple’s highest-ever retail price. Trial runs are the last step before mass production — and the sign that Apple is close to deciding final design and supply allocations.

What we know so far

Reportedly the inner display will be a large 7.7–8.0 inch, “4K‑level” panel, while the device will also include a smaller outer cover screen for quick interactions. The form factor, hinge complexity and high‑resolution panel are all consistent with why the device is likened to a premium tablet-phone hybrid. It has been reported that Foxconn is handling the initial assembly; other details about suppliers, camera modules and final materials remain unconfirmed.

Why this matters

A foldable iPhone would mark a strategic step for Apple in a category dominated by Samsung and rising Chinese rivals. Will buyers accept a price premium for a new form factor? Reportedly Apple is betting yes — but geopolitical and supply‑chain dynamics complicate the bet. Foxconn is a Taiwan‑based assembler with major facilities in China and beyond, and U.S. export controls, tariffs and cross‑strait tensions all shape where and how high‑end devices get made. For Western readers, the development underscores how product innovation is now tightly entangled with geopolitics and global supply‑chain decisions.