Industry analysts anticipate Apple’s inaugural foldable smartphone, tentatively dubbed the iPhone Fold, to launch in the coming year. Recent reports from Ming-Chi Kuo, a renowned analyst with established ties to Apple’s supply chain, suggest a significant reduction in the anticipated cost of the device’s hinge mechanism.
Kuo indicates that the hinge component is now projected to cost $70 to $80 less than previously forecasted. According to the analysis, Foxconn, in a joint venture with Shin Zu Shing, is slated to manufacture 65% of the hinges required by Apple. The remaining 35% will be supplied by Amphenol. Furthermore, the report suggests the potential inclusion of Luxshare-ICT in Apple’s hinge supply chain sometime after 2027.
The cost reduction of the hinge is expected to contribute to enhanced profitability for Apple on each iPhone Fold sold. Kuo attributes the price decline primarily to “assembly design optimization by Foxconn.”
The potential integration of Luxshare-ICT into the supply chain further indicates the potential for additional cost reductions. Furthermore, the report posits that the hinge component is emerging as a critical competitive factor for system assemblers.
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