New leak says Apple is using liquid metal in the iPhone Fold and it’s a big deal
Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone later this year. Now, reports indicate that the device could be a first for the Cupertino giant. The iPhone Fold could be made from liquid metal.
It is being said that Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone later this year. The iPhone Fold is rumored to come with a unique book-style form factor, but it looks like there’s more to the picture. According to reports, the iPhone Fold could be the first Apple device to be made of liquid metal.
According to user “yeux1122” on Korean platform Naver, Apple is expected to use liquid metal in the hinge of the iPhone Fold. The main body of the foldable device will probably be made of titanium.
What is liquid metal?
Liquidmetal, also often called liquid metal, is an amorphous metal alloy developed by a research team at the California Institute of Technology. An amorphous metal differs from metals such as stainless steel by its lack of crystalline structure. This gives LiquidMetal high strength, permanent bending resistance and impressive durability under repeated mechanical stress.
Why is Apple planning to use liquid metal for the iPhone Fold?
These characteristics have made LiquidMetal the subject of Apple’s patents covering hinges and moving parts, particularly for foldable devices, where fatigue resistance and spring-like action are critical to hinge longevity. And it seems that the Cupertino giant is planning to use these patents with the iPhone Fold.
The hinge is often the weakest part in foldable devices, and using a traditional material like stainless steel would risk significant weight gain. In contrast, LiquidMetal is very light while still providing the required stiffness. The technology enables thinner, stronger castings – an advantage for foldable hinge mechanisms, which must remain thin but strong.
The iPhone Fold is expected to be an ultra-slim foldable, measuring less than the 5.6mm-thick iPhone Fold when unfolded. Thus, a liquidmetal hinge could make this form factor easier to develop.
Apple’s history with liquid metal
Rumors about Apple exploring LiquidMetal have persisted for years, with the company’s first experiment dating back to a 2010 deal with LiquidMetal Technologies. Apple obtained a “perpetual, worldwide, fully paid, exclusive license” to the amorphous metal intellectual property in consumer electronics. Early uses were limited to small components such as SIM ejector tools, but scaling the material for major parts has been a challenge.
iPhone Fold, here’s everything we know
The iPhone Fold is expected to have a 7.8-inch internal screen with a 5.5-inch external display. Both displays will likely be high-refresh-rate OLED panels. It’s likely that the device will ditch Face ID and come with a side-mounted Touch ID sensor instead.
Under the hood, you can expect the yet-to-be-announced A20 Pro chipset in the foldable iPhone, which will likely deliver notable performance improvements over the A19 Pro seen on the iPhone 17 Pro models.
The iPhone Fold is also expected to have four cameras – one selfie shooter for each screen, along with a dual rear camera setup.
iPhone Fold launch and expected price
Apple will reportedly launch the first foldable iPhone with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026.
Although the price is not clear yet, the report indicates that the iPhone Fold could be priced at $2,400 (roughly Rs. 2,15,000) in the US.
