Foldable Apple iPhone Ultra expected to use liquid metal hinge
The first foldable Apple iPhone Ultra will feature an innovative liquid metal hinge, and prototypes have already been shipped to mobile carriers worldwide for testing, according to a new tip from Fixed Focus Digital. In a recent post on Weibo, the tipster stated that the development and production of the foldable iPhone is “progressing rapidly.” This statement came a day after a leaker reported that the foldable iPhone would feature vapor chamber cooling.
The detail of the liquid metal hinge is significant given the ongoing debate surrounding the production difficulties of the Apple iPhone Ultra. Previous reports from leaker Instant Digital attributed the manufacturing problems to the hinge failing to meet Apple’s quality standards during extended, frequent opening and closing tests. Fixed Focus Digital disputed this account, arguing that the hinge was not the primary cause of the difficulties. Today’s post now appears to present the hinge as a resolved and confirmed design element.
Liquid metal is an amorphous metal alloy with a significantly higher strength-to-weight ratio than conventional metals and superior corrosion and wear resistance. Apple has already used liquid metal to a limited extent, notably for the SIM card eject tool included with iPhones and for certain internal components.
However, using it in a load-bearing hinge mechanism would be a far more demanding application of the material. The Apple iPhone Ultra is expected to be folded and unfolded hundreds of thousands of times over its lifespan, which puts extreme stress on the hinge. Due to its durability, liquid metal is a significantly more suitable material for this purpose than conventional alloys.
Apple iPhone Ultra hinge is based on 15 years of experience
Apple’s history with liquid metal spans over 15 years. In 2010, Apple signed an exclusive agreement with Liquidmetal Technologies, securing a perpetual worldwide license to market the material in consumer electronics. In the following years, the company used liquid metal only for smaller components, such as the SIM card ejection mechanism, as the material proved difficult to scale for larger structural parts. Apple has repeatedly renewed the agreement with Liquidmetal Technologies, and the material continues to appear in patent applications for hinges and other moving parts.
Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first reported in March 2025 that the hinge of the foldable iPhone would be made of liquid metal, with Dongguan EonTec named as the exclusive supplier of the alloy. A subsequent supply chain report in January confirmed the plans for the liquid metal hinge, but in April, Fixed Focus Digital expressed doubts about the material choice, claiming that Apple was still weighing liquid metal against a 3D-printed titanium alloy.
The news that prototypes of the Apple iPhone Ultra have already arrived at mobile carriers worldwide for testing represents a significant milestone. This suggests that the device is now sufficiently developed to undergo the necessary network compatibility and carrier certification processes for market launch. DigiTimes reported in April that mass production was expected to begin in July, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the device was still slated for a September release alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. However, he noted that the exact release date was still uncertain.
The foldable Apple iPhone Ultra is expected to feature a 7.8-inch internal display, a 5.5-inch external display, the A20 chip, the C2 modem, Touch ID instead of Face ID, and two main cameras. Rumors suggest the price will start at around €2,000/US$2,000.
