Hong Kong stock concept tracking | The first foldable iPhone will be released in the second half of the year, and Apple's supply chain is expected to attract attention (with concept stocks)

According to reports, Apple will release its first foldable iPhone Fold in the second half of 2026. Supply chain related information shows that Apple has significantly increased the supply chain stocking volume of this model, raising it by 20% from the original target, a significant increase in stocking demand for new Apple phones in recent years. It is reported that the iPhone Fold will adopt the same book-style folding design as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, with a thickness of 9-9.5mm when folded and about 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded. The body frame is made of titanium alloy material to prevent bending effectively, and the hinge is made of titanium alloy and stainless steel to ensure durability and smooth folding. The iPhone Fold is expected to be released in September 2026 along with the iPhone 18 series, featuring the A20 Pro chip built on TSMC's 2nm process, with a 15% performance improvement and a 30% energy efficiency improvement compared to the previous A19 chip. The chip also integrates WMCM technology, which achieves wafer-level integration of memory with CPU, GPU, and NPU, greatly improving AI and graphics processing efficiency. Due to the increased costs of the hinge, body, and screen, the iPhone Fold is set to be Apple's first iPhone priced over $2000, with rumors suggesting a US price between $2000 and $2500, equivalent to about 13816-17270 RMB. According to IDC data, the shipment volume of foldable smartphones in China was approximately 10.01 million units in 2025, an increase of 9.2% year-on-year, contrasting with a 0.6% year-on-year decrease in the Chinese smartphone market, achieving a reverse growth trend. Qunzhi Consulting predicts that the global shipment volume of foldable smartphones in 2026 will reach 24-25 million units, a 41% to 47% increase compared to the approximately 17 million units shipped in 2025. The shipment volume in the Chinese market is expected to reach 12-13 million units, a 20% to 30% increase compared to the approximately 10 million units shipped in 2025. In the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, Apple's total revenue and net profit increased by 16% and 15.9% year-on-year respectively, far exceeding expectations. In particular, Apple's revenue in Greater China reached $25.526 billion, a 38% surge year-on-year. During the performance conference call, Apple projected a 13%-16% revenue growth in the second quarter (the first quarter of this year). Apple's strong financial performance injected strong confidence into the industry chain recovery. According to Omdia data, in 2025, Apple once again reached a record high in annual shipments, with iPhone shipments reaching 240.6 million units, a 7% increase year-on-year, maintaining its position as the top global smartphone shipment volume for three consecutive years, demonstrating its absolute dominant position in the global high-end smartphone market. Aijian Securities believes that foldable smartphones are a core innovative product category in the smartphone industry, with hinges and flexible display modules as core components effectively balancing the core contradiction between large screen experience and device portability. With an optimistic forecast, Apple's foldable smartphone sales in 2026 are expected to reach 14 million units. The high-end positioning and huge sales volume of the iPhone itself are expected to drive the entire industry chain to a turning point of rapid development. Related concept stocks: SUNNY OPTICAL (02382): A leading global supplier of optical lenses, mobile camera modules, and car lenses. It provides high-end camera modules and optical lenses for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, serving as a core supplier for Apple's imaging systems. The company expects its net profit attributable to shareholders to be approximately RMB 4.589-4.724 billion in 2025, an increase of approximately 70-75% from the profit of approximately RMB 2.699 billion in 2024. Q TECH (01478): Focuses on mobile camera modules, fingerprint recognition modules, and car image systems. It supplies mid-to-low-end camera modules for iPhone, deepening its integration into Apple's mid-range model supply chain. The company expects a year-on-year increase in comprehensive profits of about 400% to 450% in 2025. GoerTek (02018): A global leader in acoustics, providing speakers, receivers, microphones, linear motors, and RF devices. It is a core supplier of acoustic components for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, providing exclusive high-end linear motors. COWELL (01415): A core supplier of Apple's camera modules, structural components, and acoustic components. Morgan Stanley believes that the adjusted iPhone product line in the second half of this year will benefit COWELL as it has a higher proportion of Pro and Pro Max model business, and its market share continues to expand. The bank expects the company to gain additional market share in the main rear camera module field in 2027. It revised profit forecasts for 2025-27 by 3% to 9%, expecting profits to increase by 23% and 26% year-on-year in 2026 and 2027 respectively, and believes that the company's valuation should be reassessed, reiterating a "buy" rating with a target price of HK$44. Lens Technology (06613): A core supplier of glass cover plates and metal mid-frames for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch, starting multiple new Apple projects in the second half of 2025, benefiting from the UTG ultra-thin flexible glass used in foldable screen iPhones, significantly increasing the unit value volume.