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Liquidmetal could be Apple’s secret weapon for the foldable iPhone

液态金属或将成为苹果折叠屏iPhone的秘密武器

Thursday, April 16, 2026 12:00 pm

2026年4月16日 星期四 中午12:00

After more than 15 years of quiet experimentation, Apple appears ready to unleash Liquidmetal in one of the most demanding roles imaginable: the hinge of its first foldable iPhone. If the latest supply chain reports hold true, this amorphous alloy could be the secret sauce that makes Apple’s book style foldable not just competitive with Samsung, Google, and others, but potentially superior in durability, thinness, and that all important screen flatness.

经过超过15年的低调研发，苹果似乎准备将液态金属投入一项要求极高的应用场景：其首款折叠屏iPhone的铰链。如果最新供应链消息属实，这种非晶合金将成为核心关键材料，让苹果的横向内折折叠屏不仅能与三星、谷歌等竞品抗衡，更有望在耐用性、轻薄度以及至关重要的屏幕平整度上实现超越。

What Exactly Is Liquidmetal?

什么是液态金属？

Liquidmetal (often called metallic glass or amorphous metal) is a revolutionary alloy that cools so rapidly during manufacturing that its atoms don’t form the usual rigid crystal lattice. Instead, they remain in a disordered, glass like structure. The result? A material that’s:

• Extremely strong and hard (rumors suggest 2 to 2.5 times stronger than titanium in comparable alloys)

• Highly resistant to permanent deformation and fatigue

• Excellent at spring like elastic recovery

• Capable of being precision die cast into complex shapes

液态金属（常被称为金属玻璃或非晶态金属）是一种革命性合金，在制造过程中冷却速度极快，原子无法形成常规的刚性晶体晶格，而是保持无序、类玻璃的结构。由此带来的特性包括：

• 极高的强度与硬度（消息称强度达到同等钛合金的2至2.5倍）

• 极强的抗永久变形与抗疲劳性能

• 优秀的类弹簧弹性恢复能力

• 可通过精密压铸制成复杂结构

Apple has held exclusive rights to use Liquidmetal Technologies’ IP in consumer electronics since 2010. Until now, its appearances have been limited to tiny parts like SIM ejector pins. The foldable iPhone hinge would mark the material’s first major mechanical role in an Apple product.

苹果自2010年起就拥有液态金属技术公司相关知识产权在消费电子领域的独家使用权。在此之前，该材料仅被用于SIM卡取卡针等微小零部件。折叠屏iPhone铰链将是该材料首次在苹果产品中承担核心力学结构角色。

Why a Foldable Hinge Demands Something This Advanced

为何折叠屏铰链需要如此先进的材料？

Traditional foldable phone hinges rely on intricate multi link mechanisms made from stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium. Over hundreds of thousands of folds, these parts can wear, develop play, or fail to keep the screen perfectly flat, leading to the dreaded visible crease that plagues most current foldables.

传统折叠屏手机铰链依赖由不锈钢、铝或钛合金制成的复杂多连杆结构。在数十万次弯折后，这些部件会出现磨损、松动，无法维持屏幕完全平整，进而产生绝大多数现有折叠屏机型都存在的显眼折痕。

Aaron Lee for DigiTimes Asia:

DigiTimes Asia 记者 Aaron Lee：

Apple’s first foldable device has entered its final countdown phase. Reports from the supply chain indicate that the new device features significant breakthroughs in both its external structure and key materials. Notably, the hinge mechanism incorporates Liquidmetal—an amorphous alloy—marking the industry’s first instance of large-scale commercial application for this material. It is understood that Liquidmetal possesses characteristics such as high strength, superior wear resistance, and excellent fluidity. These properties enable the fabrication of hinge structures with greater complexity and precision, while simultaneously allowing for effective control over device thickness; thus, it serves as the core technology underpinning the lightweight and durable design of the foldable iPhone. On the materials front, Eontec acts as the exclusive supplier of zirconium-based Liquidmetal, while Taiwanese manufacturers Newmax and Amphenol share the responsibility for module assembly. The entire supply chain has now entered the trial production and validation phase. Although the timeline for mass production has been slightly delayed due to yield-related factors, Apple remains firmly committed to the Liquidmetal approach and has not activated any alternative plans. Mass production is expected to officially commence in the third quarter of 2026, with shipments projected to reach their peak in the fourth quarter.

苹果首款折叠屏设备已进入最终倒计时阶段。供应链消息显示，新品在外部结构与核心材料上均实现重大突破。值得注意的是，铰链机构采用液态金属（一种非晶合金），这是该材料在行业内首次大规模商用。据悉，液态金属具备高强度、高耐磨性、优异流动性等特点，可制造更复杂、更高精度的铰链结构，同时有效控制机身厚度，是支撑折叠屏iPhone实现轻薄与耐用设计的核心技术。材料方面，宜安科技为锆基液态金属独家供应商，台湾厂商新日兴与安费诺共同负责模组组装。整个供应链已进入试产验证阶段。尽管因良率因素量产时间略有延后，但苹果坚定坚持液态金属方案，并未启动任何替代计划。预计2026年第三季度正式量产，第四季度出货达到高峰。

Currently, Eontec has achieved a material yield rate exceeding 90%; the bottlenecks are now concentrated in the module assembly stage. It is projected that the conditions required for mass production will be met by the end of July. Regarding shipment volume, market analysts anticipate that the foldable iPhone will see shipments of approximately 6 to 7 million units in its first year. Due to limited supplies of key components, the device is expected to face shortages during its initial launch period.

目前宜安科技材料良率已突破90%，瓶颈集中在模组组装环节，预计7月底具备大规模量产条件。出货量方面，市场分析师预计折叠屏iPhone首年出货约600–700万台。由于核心零部件供应受限，上市初期将面临缺货。

Analyst Ming Chi Kuo and multiple supply chain sources claim Apple is turning to Liquidmetal precisely to solve these issues:

• Superior durability under repeated flexing

• Better screen flatness when unfolded, minimizing or eliminating crease impressions

• Tighter tolerances thanks to die casting, allowing a slimmer overall design (rumored 4.5 to 5.5 mm unfolded)

• Spring like behavior that helps the device snap open and close smoothly while maintaining long term reliability

分析师郭明錤及多家供应链消息指出，苹果选用液态金属正是为了解决以下问题：

• 反复弯折下的超高耐用性

• 展开后更好的屏幕平整度，减少甚至消除折痕

• 压铸工艺带来更高精度，实现更纤薄的整体设计（传闻展开厚度4.5–5.5毫米）

• 类弹性特性使开合更顺畅，并保持长期可靠性

Paired with an upgraded titanium alloy chassis (lighter yet stronger than current iPhone titanium frames), the combination could deliver a premium feel without excessive weight.

搭配升级款钛合金机身（比现有iPhone钛金属边框更轻更强），整体可在不过度增重的前提下提供高端质感。

The Long Road to This Moment

漫长的落地之路

Apple has been eyeing Liquidmetal for hinges and moving parts in patents for years. The material’s unique properties make it theoretically ideal for anything that needs to bend repeatedly without breaking or loosening. Scaling production for high volume, precision components has always been the hurdle, but recent reports suggest suppliers like Dongguan EonTec are already shipping significant volumes of Liquidmetal based hinge elements, positioning them for Apple’s potential orders.

苹果多年来一直在专利中规划将液态金属用于铰链与活动部件。该材料的独特特性使其理论上非常适合需要反复弯折而不断裂、不松动的结构。高精密零部件的规模化量产一直是最大障碍，但最新消息显示，东莞宜安等供应商已开始大批量出货液态金属铰链部件，为苹果订单做好准备。

If mass production ramps in late 2026, the first foldable iPhone (expected as a 7.8 inch inner / 5.5 inch outer book style device) could ship with this advanced hinge in 2026 or early 2027.

若2026年底量产顺利，首款折叠屏iPhone（预计为7.8英寸内屏+5.5英寸外屏的横向内折方案）有望在2026年或2027年初上市。

Will It Finally Kill the Crease?

它能彻底消除折痕吗？

Rumors suggest Apple is combining the Liquidmetal hinge with specialized display tech (possibly dual layer or chemically treated glass from Samsung) aimed at near crease free performance. While no foldable has completely eliminated the crease yet, Apple’s obsessive focus on materials and tight integration could get closer than anyone else.

消息称，苹果将液态金属铰链与专用显示技术（可能是三星提供的双层结构或特殊化学处理玻璃）结合，目标实现接近无折痕效果。尽管目前没有任何折叠屏能完全消除折痕，但苹果在材料与系统整合上的极致追求有望做到行业最优。

Of course, these are still rumors. Apple could iterate further, or challenges in high volume manufacturing could push timelines. But the consistent drumbeat from analysts like Kuo and supply chain leakers indicates serious momentum.

当然，目前仍属传闻。苹果可能继续迭代方案，或因大规模量产难题推迟时间节点。但郭明錤等分析师与供应链消息持续释放信号，项目推进势头明确。

MacDailyNews Take: Apple rarely rushes into new categories. When it does enter the foldable market, it typically aims to redefine the experience rather than match the competition. A Liquidmetal hinge would be classic Apple: taking a material it’s quietly tested and mastered for well over a decade and deploying it where it delivers the biggest real world benefit, making the foldable iPhone feel more like a solid slab of premium engineering than a delicate gadget. If it delivers on the promises of unmatched durability, minimal creasing, and effortless folding action, the first Apple foldable could justify its expected $2,000+ price tag and set a new benchmark for the entire category. Here’s hoping the wait is nearly over, and that Liquidmetal finally gets the spotlight it’s long deserved inside an iPhone.

MacDailyNews 点评：苹果极少仓促进入新品类。当其正式入局折叠屏市场时，通常旨在重新定义体验，而非仅追赶竞品。液态金属铰链是典型的苹果式思路：将一款默默测试打磨十余年的材料，用在能带来最大实际价值的地方，让折叠屏iPhone更像一件精密高端的工程制品，而非脆弱的数码玩具。若其能兑现超高耐用性、近乎无折痕、流畅折叠的承诺，这款苹果首款折叠屏便有望支撑起2000美元以上的定价，并为整个行业树立新标杆。只盼等待即将结束，液态金属终于能在iPhone上迎来其实至名归的高光时刻。

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