A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like
Apple’s power consumption concerns has reportedly led to the development of new chips to control the display of the iPhone Fold, with it apparently now using a smaller chip fabrication process.
The rumor mill has repeatedly speculated on Apple’s development of the iPhone Fold and a foldable iPad. With a key part of the device being the display, Apple is expected to be putting a lot of work into creating an exceptional version for release.
According to a Weibo post from leaker “Mobile Phone Chip Expert” on Monday, this apparently includes being careful about power.
In the brief post, it is claimed that Apple holds power consumption as an important part of hardware production. With that in mind, Apple has reportedly made changes to the integrated circuits (IC) components used in the display.
The leaker believes that the driver IC chips in the folding display are being upgraded, from using a 28-nanometer production process to a 16-nanometer version.
Switching production processes to a smaller scale offer quite a few benefits to chip production. This includes reduced power consumption to operate the chip, the possibility of the component running cooler, and in some cases, cost savings by having more chips produced from a wafer.
Generally speaking, rumors from Weibo are not often found to be accurate, and tend to consist of rereported claims from elsewhere in the rumor mill. Previously, Mobile Phone Chip Expert was right about the A17 using TSMC’s N3B process, but it has also claimed that Apple won’t be using TSMC’s 2-nanometer process until the iPhone 18 Pro.
It is ultimately unclear why or whether there are any benefits to Apple making the change, other than saving on power. It is unknown if there are power-related challenges for deploying such a display, but it’s a feasible reason alongside extending battery life.
Foldable rumors
The claim is the latest surrounding the fabled iPhone Fold and its iPad counterpart. Current speculation is that it is set for mass production in the second half of 2026, making a launch possible in late 2026 or early 2027.
In January, it was thought that Apple was close to selecting its foldable display supplier for the models, which would be chosen by April. The potential suppliers had to meet strict demands relating to display thickness, hardness, and the radius of the curvature.
Previous rumors say he screen of the device could be similar in scale to a 13-inch iPad Pro when unfolded, in the foldable iPad version. The iPhone Fold’s display, when open, could be closer to that of the iPad mini.
Rumors have also discussed the hinge mechanism to support the display when unfolded, and the possibility of Pro-grade iPhone cameras on the rear.
