The highly anticipated iPhone Ultra appears to be back on track for a September launch. Sources in Apple's supply chain indicate that the company's first foldable phone will enter mass production next month, despite concerns surrounding the performance of the device's hinge in durability tests.
The device has finalized its key specifications, including its display, case, and mechanical components, and has entered the preparation phase for mass production. Mass production is likely to begin in late July, with Foxconn handling the initial batch, and a September unveiling is "expected to proceed without major issues."
However, the project has not been without its fair share of minor issues. For the past couple of months, pundits have blown hot and cold between predicting delays and insisting it's on track. Trial production has been underway since April, and the results of this phase are crucial for the timing of later stages of production.
The performance of the iPhone Ultra's hinge has caused some worries. Slight noise occurred in the hinges after durability tests involving millions of cycles, and in some assembly processes, tolerances were larger than expected, resulting in a slightly higher defect rate.
The success or failure of the iPhone Ultra depends to a large extent on the performance of its hinge. Apple's customers will be asked to pay roughly twice as much for the Ultra as for a top-end non-folding iPhone, while accepting an additional point of mechanical failure.
Apple's biggest product launch of the year is expected to be a significant one, and the company will hope it can do rather better than simply resolving the hinge concerns.
