iPhone Fold reportedly hits fresh snag as circuit board issues slow production

https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/iphone-fold-circuit-board-delays-report

Publish Date: 2026-05-28 07:20:00

Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone is reportedly running into another production headache.

According to a post from well-known Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, and citing supply chain sources, the problem is tied specifically to the assembly of circuit boards using SMT (Surface Mount Technology). While Apple is not to be facing a single “major” design failure, the manufacturing pipeline itself is struggling to keep pace.

In practical terms, that’s now translating into slower-than-expected production for the device. The leaker describes this situation as “not optimistic” for ramping up output.

SMT, or Surface Mount Technology, is the modern standard for assembling printed circuit boards. Instead of using wires that pass through drilled holes, you place components directly onto copper pads and solder them in place using heat. It’s a key process in almost every modern smartphone. This is because it allows for smaller, denser, and more automated production at scale.

But when you’re dealing with a foldable device like the rumoured iPhone Fold, the tolerances are tighter. More compact layouts, flexible components, and hinge-adjacent circuitry all add pressure to an already complex manufacturing process.

The latest SMT-related concern follows a string of mixed reports around Apple’s foldable project. Earlier claims suggested hinge durability issues under repeated folding stress. Meanwhile, more recent posts have alternated between suggesting Apple is struggling and insisting its hinge design is actually ahead of rivals. As usual with Weibo-based leaks, the picture isn’t entirely consistent.

That inconsistency is worth keeping in mind. While Fixed Focus Digital has occasionally been accurate on Apple details – including correctly naming the iPhone 16e ahead of launch – the account also has a record of contradicting itself or repeating unverified supply chain…

Source