Apple's Foldable iPhone Hinge Will Be Cheaper Than Expected, Foxconn to Lead Production [Kuo]

The hinge for Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will be significantly cheaper than expected, according to a new supply chain report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The forecast also points to Foxconn taking a leading role in the component's production through a new joint venture, a move that would tighten its control over the iPhone assembly process.

Kuo now pegs the average selling price for the hinge at around $70 to $80 during mass production, a steep drop from the market's previous estimate of 100 - 120. He attributes the lower cost not to cheaper parts, but to Foxconn stepping in to handle manufacturing and optimizing the assembly design.

According to the report, Foxconn has formed a joint venture with Shin Zu Shing (SZS) to produce the component, securing a majority of the initial orders at about 65 percent. Amphenol is expected to supply the remaining 35 percent. Kuo's analysis also suggests that by entering the hinge business, Foxconn is reinforcing its vertical integration with its final assembly operations.


The foldable iPhone is a key part of Apple's planned three-year overhaul of the lineup and is still expected to enter mass production in late 2026. Previous reports have pointed to a durable metallic glass hinge and side-button Touch ID for the device. Apple is said to be accelerating its hardware plans amid a broader push into artificial intelligence.

Kuo adds that Luxshare-ICT could emerge as another supplier after 2027, and that Amphenol's smaller share may simply be a strategic choice as it weighs its return on investment against other opportunities.

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