Abstract:
TrendForce released an analysis yesterday saying that pre-orders for Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo have been open for less than a week, and the delivery date for some orders on the official website has been postponed to January 2027. The first wave of user feedback shows that the split-screen operation and screen look and feel after unfolding the folding machine are positive, but the black borders of the app, button configuration and fingerprint unlocking increase the adaptation cost; screen damage returns and high maintenance quotes have focused the market on reliability and ownership costs.
TrendForce estimates that global foldable phone shipments will grow slightly by 0.5% in 2026. Apple's first foldable iPhone shipped approximately 5 million units and accounted for approximately 24.8% of the market in the first year of its launch. With the overall market size close to being flat, Apple’s entry will accelerate the redistribution of brand market shares.
Analysis points out that iPhone Duo’s crease visibility is low, thanks to multi-layer material stress control and nano-texture optical optimization. The teardrop-shaped hinge is responsible for key dynamic control. If the central support is not sufficiently set back, additional local contact and stress concentration will be formed. This is also an inference put forward after recent disassembly analysis. Apple has provided replacement devices for a small number of devices with abnormal internal screens. The focus of subsequent engineering improvements is expected to be on the coordinated control of hinge stroke, support height, fitting accuracy, and assembly tolerances.
At the software level, some apps still have problems with black borders and insufficient space utilization, and software adaptation has not yet given full play to the advantages of the hardware. At the same time, large screens also increase energy consumption management requirements, which require a combination of efficient luminescent materials and adaptive drivers to take into account multi-tasking, AI computing and battery life. TrendForce believes that Apple’s biggest advantage lies in its ability to integrate chips, systems and developer ecosystems. In the future, as App adaptation and hardware reliability improve, the competition for foldable mobile phones will shift from appearance innovation to multi-tasking efficiency as the core.
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