After more than 15 years of quiet experimentation, Apple appears ready to unleash Liquidmetal in one of the most demanding roles imaginable: the hinge of its first foldable iPhone. If the latest supply chain reports hold true, this amorphous alloy could be the secret sauce that makes Apple’s book style foldable not just competitive with Samsung, Google, and others, but potentially superior in durability, thinness, and that all important screen flatness.
What Exactly Is Liquidmetal?
Liquidmetal (often called metallic glass or amorphous metal) is a revolutionary alloy that cools so rapidly during manufacturing that its atoms don’t form the usual rigid crystal lattice. Instead, they remain in a disordered, glass like structure. The result? A material that’s:
• Extremely strong and hard (rumors suggest 2 to 2.5 times stronger than titanium in comparable alloys)
• Highly resistant to permanent deformation and fatigue
• Excellent at spring like elastic recovery
• Capable of being precision die cast into complex shapes
Apple has held exclusive rights to use Liquidmetal Technologies’ IP in consumer electronics since 2010. Until now, its appearances have been limited to tiny parts like SIM ejector pins. The foldable iPhone hinge would mark the material’s first major mechanical role in an Apple product.
Why a Foldable Hinge Demands Something This Advanced
Traditional foldable phone hinges rely on intricate multi link mechanisms made from stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium. Over hundreds of thousands of folds, these parts can wear, develop play, or fail to keep the screen perfectly flat, leading to the dreaded visible crease that plagues most current foldables.
Aaron Lee for DigiTimes Asia:
Apple’s first foldable device has entered its final countdown phase. Reports from the supply chain indicate that the new device features significant breakthroughs in both its external structure and key materials. Notably, the hinge mechanism incorporates Liquidmetal—an amorphous alloy—marking the industry’s first instance of large-scale commercial application for this material. It is understood that Liquidmetal possesses characteristics such as high strength, superior wear resistance, and excellent fluidity. These properties enable the fabrication of hinge structures with greater complexity and precision, while simultaneously allowing for effective control over device thickness; thus, it serves as the core technology underpinning the lightweight and durable design of the foldable iPhone. On the materials front, Eontec acts as the exclusive supplier of zirconium-based Liquidmetal, while Taiwanese manufacturers Newmax and Amphenol share the responsibility for module assembly. The entire supply chain has now entered the trial production and validation phase. Although the timeline for mass production has been slightly delayed due to yield-related factors, Apple remains firmly committed to the Liquidmetal approach and has not activated any alternative plans. Mass production is expected to officially commence in the third quarter of 2026, with shipments projected to reach their peak in the fourth quarter…
Currently, Eontec has achieved a material yield rate exceeding 90%; the bottlenecks are now concentrated in the module assembly stage. It is projected that the conditions required for mass production will be met by the end of July. Regarding shipment volume, market analysts anticipate that the foldable iPhone will see shipments of approximately 6 to 7 million units in its first year. Due to limited supplies of key components, the device is expected to face shortages during its initial launch period.
Analyst Ming Chi Kuo and multiple supply chain sources claim Apple is turning to Liquidmetal precisely to solve these issues:
• Superior durability under repeated flexing
• Better screen flatness when unfolded, minimizing or eliminating crease impressions
• Tighter tolerances thanks to die casting, allowing a slimmer overall design (rumored 4.5 to 5.5 mm unfolded)
• Spring like behavior that helps the device snap open and close smoothly while maintaining long term reliability
Paired with an upgraded titanium alloy chassis (lighter yet stronger than current iPhone titanium frames), the combination could deliver a premium feel without excessive weight.
The Long Road to This Moment
Apple has been eyeing Liquidmetal for hinges and moving parts in patents for years. The material’s unique properties make it theoretically ideal for anything that needs to bend repeatedly without breaking or loosening. Scaling production for high volume, precision components has always been the hurdle, but recent reports suggest suppliers like Dongguan EonTec are already shipping significant volumes of Liquidmetal based hinge elements, positioning them for Apple’s potential orders.
If mass production ramps in late 2026, the first foldable iPhone (expected as a 7.8 inch inner / 5.5 inch outer book style device) could ship with this advanced hinge in 2026 or early 2027.
Will It Finally Kill the Crease?
Rumors suggest Apple is combining the Liquidmetal hinge with specialized display tech (possibly dual layer or chemically treated glass from Samsung) aimed at near crease free performance. While no foldable has completely eliminated the crease yet, Apple’s obsessive focus on materials and tight integration could get closer than anyone else.
Of course, these are still rumors. Apple could iterate further, or challenges in high volume manufacturing could push timelines. But the consistent drumbeat from analysts like Kuo and supply chain leakers indicates serious momentum.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple rarely rushes into new categories. When it does enter the foldable market, it typically aims to redefine the experience rather than match the competition. A Liquidmetal hinge would be classic Apple: taking a material it’s quietly tested and mastered for well over a decade and deploying it where it delivers the biggest real world benefit, making the foldable iPhone feel more like a solid slab of premium engineering than a delicate gadget. If it delivers on the promises of unmatched durability, minimal creasing, and effortless folding action, the first Apple foldable could justify its expected $2,000+ price tag and set a new benchmark for the entire category. Here’s hoping the wait is nearly over, and that Liquidmetal finally gets the spotlight it’s long deserved inside an iPhone.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
