According to Nikkei, Apple $AAPL is encountering more technical issues than expected in the testing phase of its first foldable iPhone, and initial deliveries could, in a worse-case scenario, be pushed back by several months from the original plan for the second half of 2026. This is the so-called engineering test/early test production phase — the moment when prototypes are tested under conditions close to mass production and things like display durability, hinge reliability, and production yield are being fine-tuned; it is precisely here that Apple has reportedly run into problems and "needs more time for adjustments."
From an investor's perspective, this is more a confirmation of the known: Apple would rather accept a delay than risk the first foldable iPhone having a visible crease in the display or poor longevity — an issue that has plagued competitors for several generations. If the iPhone Fold is indeed delayed to the end of 2026 or later, in the short term it isn’t a major hit to the business (most revenue still comes from standard models and services), but it could limit the hype around the "new form" in the very year when, according to leaks, Apple is reshuffling its release calendar and placing more emphasis on premium models.
Apple is already a value stock, and you can't expect something revolutionary all the time. The iPhone Fold doesn't seem like a good idea to me, but maybe they'll surprise us.
I'm a little unnerved that after so much time they're still having the problems others had four years ago — but the main thing is that everything else is working relatively smoothly.