Thanks to this latest Apple foldable phone leak, the futuristic iPhone Flip seems closer than ever.

The Economic Daily News, citing sources in Apple's supply chain, claims that sample iPhone Flip devices are currently undergoing testing at Taiwanese Apple manufacturer Foxconn.

The testing is reportedly focused on the display and bearings within the phone, with the goal of opening and closing the iPhone Flip 100,000 times. This is more than three times the test comparable to a laptop hinge, which is to be expected given the frequency with which users open their phones compared to their laptops. [Folding phones are much more fragile than standard smartphones, and it is critical to ensure that the flexible portion of the display will function reliably for the life of the phone. Apple, after all, would not want to end up with a mechanical mess like Samsung faced with the first Galaxy Fold. Early review samples of Samsung's first foldable phone suffered from dirt and debris getting under the display and damaging the screen.

Coincidentally, Samsung is said to be involved in this testing process because it reportedly manufactures displays for the iPhone Flip. This is not surprising since Samsung manufactures many displays for other smartphone companies. Meanwhile, parts suppliers New Nikko and Nippon are reportedly responsible for manufacturing the bearings that keep the hinge running smoothly.

Other reports suggest that the foldable will feature either an OLED or mini LED display, whichever makes sense. Apple currently uses OLED in the iPhone 12 series, while the mini LED is expected to be used in next year's next-generation iPad Pro and other models. Since the two displays require different components and processes to manufacture, Apple will likely choose which display type performs better in tests.

The phone is still in testing and is Apple's first attempt at a folding phone, so there is still time for a launch. Current estimates are that it will be released long after the iPhone 13 next year, in September 2022 at the latest. It is even possible that it will probably be released together with the iPhone 14.