iPhone Fold rumor suggests it will bring a 3D printed hinge

A new report from China is confident that the upcoming iPhone Fold will feature a 3D printed hinge to help bring the crease on its folding display to a minimum. This is the first time that we’re seeing specific details about 3D printing used on the iPhone Fold’s hinge, which has so far been rumored to also feature liquid metal as well as dual-layer glass.

It wouldn’t exactly be a breakthrough as Oppo’s Find N6 already pioneered this approach on its second-generation Titanium Flexion hinge. Oppo achieved its “zero-feel crease” by laser-measuring the differences in hinge depth at the microscopic level and then applying 3D liquid polymer to even out the hinge and make it slimmer than the hinges on previous foldables.

We’ve also seen older reports claiming that the iPhone Fold will match the Oppo Find N6 in terms of minimizing its display crease, which is apparently a major focus for Apple. Apple is no stranger to 3D printed components, as it already uses 3D printed titanium casings for its Apple Watch series and the iPhone Air’s USB-C port. The 3D printing process is also more efficient and uses up less material than conventional forging manufacturing.

Source (in Chinese)