iPhone Fold is getting closer. Apple has reportedly eliminated the screen crease, and the first 100 units are already in production!

The foldable iPhone is no longer a futuristic concept but is starting to look like a real product. The latest reports from UDN suggest that Apple has made a true breakthrough in what other manufacturers have been struggling with for years – it has completely eliminated the visible crease on the screen. Moreover, a batch of around 100 devices has already been produced as part of the engineering verification testing (EVT) stage.

Apple and Samsung shoulder to shoulder, but… the panel was designed by Apple

Although the internal display for the iPhone Fold is supplied by Samsung, the entire structure of the panel, the material processing, laminating, and key elements of the folding mechanism are to be designed by Apple. The company has been actively working on redesigning both the panel and the hinge to eliminate the most criticised issue in foldables – the visible crease in the middle of the screen.

According to the source, Apple has achieved “a crease-free design”, thanks to a combination of proprietary laminating methods and a new bearing construction developed jointly with suppliers New Rixing and Amfeno.

The project is entering the EVT stage – around 100 devices are being produced

UDN claims that Foxconn (Honghai) has already launched a dedicated production line for the foldable iPhone. This is a signal that the project has moved beyond the prototype phase and has entered the second stage – Engineering Validation Testing. It is at this moment that the first devices are being created, which resemble the final product and allow Apple to test the operation of all key components in realistic conditions. The number of units at this stage usually hovers around a hundred – and supposedly, this time is no different.

The price might hurt. Starting from… 2400 dollars?

If previous leaks are confirmed, the iPhone Fold – perhaps marketed as iPhone Ultra – will be one of the most expensive mobile devices on the market. There is talk of a price even reaching 2400 dollars, which would make it more expensive than most Apple laptops. Release? The most likely date is next year. One thing is certain: if Apple has indeed solved the folding issue, foldable smartphones have just entered a new era. And the rest of the industry has reason to worry.