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The new MacBook Neo has apparently been a smash hit, and Apple will likely talk up its success at its next quarterly earnings call. But, in what can be considered a good problem to have, Apple is facing a bit of a supply chain predicament. Its stock of A18 Pro chips — the previous-gen iPhone processor that powers the Neo — is reportedly running low according to respected analyst Tim Culpan . One of the ways Apple got the price of the Neo down was by using leftover, binned, A18 Pro chips that were originally destined for life inside iPhone 16 Pro. If it needs to ramp up production again, though, the laptop’s margins will be squeezed. more…
Apple's first foldable iPhone may not carry the speculative media-derived "Fold" branding after all, according to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station . In a new post on Weibo, the oft-accurate leaker claimed that Apple's book-style foldable could launch as the "iPhone Ultra." Meanwhile, domestic Chinese manufacturers are allegedly deciding whether to follow Apple's lead by tentatively branding their own upcoming foldables as "Ultra" models, but likely with a lighter price tag – Apple's version is expected to cost between $2,000 and $2,500 . If Apple does adopt the Ultra name, it wouldn't be the first time. The company already uses the moniker to designate Apple Watch Ultra and CarPlay Ultra as premium products, not to mention its top-end M1 Ultra and M3 Ultra chips. Indeed, Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman reported in March that Apple is considering "Ultra" branding for an OLED touchscreen MacBook and a future AirPods model with cameras, suggesting the label could spread across several product lines. Based on the latest rumors, Apple's foldable iPhone is widely expected to launch later this year, sometime between September and December . The device is expected to feature an approximately 5.3- to 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen, with a front-facing camera in both closed and open orientations, and a dual-lens rear camera. Digital Chat Station has more than three million followers on Weibo, and has a track record of accurately leaking Apple-related information. Still, as with all such reports, the details remain unconfirmed. Related Roundup: iPhone Fold Tags: Digital Chat Station , Foldable iPhone , iPhone Ultra This article, " Leaker: Foldable iPhone Won't Be Called iPhone Fold, But 'iPhone Ultra' " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple has run into "more issues than expected" during the engineering test phase of its foldable iPhone, potentially delaying the device's launch well into 2027. According to a new report from Nikkei Asia , engineering problems emerging during the foldable iPhone's early test production phase are more complex and taking longer to resolve than Apple anticipated. The device is currently undergoing engineering verification testing, a critical stage in validating an all-new design before it can proceed toward mass production. Component suppliers have reportedly been notified that production schedules may need to be pushed back, indicating that Apple is already adjusting its timeline as it works to resolve the issues. The foldable iPhone was already expected to launch later than the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max in September, potentially following a staggered release pattern similar to the iPhone X, but the newly surfaced engineering setbacks increase the risk of further delays beyond that window. "It's true that more issues than expected have emerged during the early test production phase, and additional time will be needed to resolve them and make necessary adjustments," a source familiar with the matter told Nikkei Asia . "The current situation could put the mass production timeline at risk." The source also stressed the urgency of the next few weeks: "April will mark a crucial stage of the engineering verification test, and this month till early May is extremely critical." Nikkei cites sources both inside Apple and among component suppliers warning of delays. Issues surrounding the engineering development of the foldable are more complex than expected, and in a worst-case scenario could delay first shipments by months. "Apple and the supply chain are working under a pressured timeline and the current solutions are not enough to completely solve the engineering challenge," the source said. "More time is needed." Leaker Fixed Focus Digital today claimed that the device is being delayed by ongoing pricing negotiations with manufacturing partners and an unresolved decision over hinge materials. Apple is said to be choosing between liquid metal, which could improve durability and reduce creasing, and a 3D-printed titanium alloy, with a final decision expected during the Production Validation Test phase in July or early August. Meanwhile, unresolved cost discussions with its assembly partner could further impact the production schedule. Related Roundup: iPhone Fold Tag: Foldable iPhone This article, " Foldable iPhone Engineering Delays Could Push Launch Into 2027 " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple's first foldable iPhone is being held up by pricing negotiations with manufacturing partners and an unresolved decision about hinge materials, rather than component or display problems, according to Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital . Apple is expected to release its first foldable iPhone later this year, in the form of a book-style device that unfolds to reveal a screen about the size of an iPad mini. Reports suggest it will feature a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded and a 5.5-inch cover display, but claims of when it will launch have yet to arrive at a consensus, with reports suggesting a release could come as early as September or as late as December. In a post today on social network Weibo, Fixed Focus Digital cited their own supply chain sources claiming Apple is still undecided on the hinge material, with the company still apparently weighing liquid metal against 3D-printed titanium alloy, which was most recently used in the iPhone Air . Rumors going back to March last year claimed that Apple had settled on the use of liquid metal for the hinge, which could improve durability and reduce screen creasing. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo , Apple has previously used liquid metal in smaller device components like SIM ejector pins, but the foldable iPhone will be the company's first major use of the material in a critical mechanical part. Fixed Focus Digital expects Apple to settle on its preferred material during the device's Production Validation Test (PVT) phase between July and early August, which would be the latest time for such a decision to be realistically made – assuming the device is scheduled to ship this year. The second, potentially more disruptive issue is allegedly price negotiations with Apple's assembly partner, which the leaker suggested could affect the production schedule. Apple's first foldable iPhone could end up costing nearly twice as much as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with retail pricing likely to be somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500 . According to Kuo, the foldable iPhone will 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. Fixed Focus Digital previously broke the news ahead of launch about the iPhone 16e name for Apple's upcoming iPhone SE successor. Tags: Fixed Focus Digital , Foldable iPhone This article, " Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Hitting Late-Stage Manufacturing Snags " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
