From a potential delay in launch to iPhone Fold dummy units showing up, Apple's long-rumoured first foldable iPhone has been the talk of the town recently. Now, a report has revealed that the Cupertino giant has agreed to exclusively use Samsung OLED for the iPhone Fold till 2028.
iPhone Fold Will Exclusively Feature Samsung-Made OLED
As per South Korean tech publication The Elec, Apple has reportedly agreed to only use Samsung OLED panels for the iPhone Fold (aka the iPhone Fold Ultra). It is said to be a contract wherein Samsung will supply foldable OLED displays to Apple for the next three years.
Previously, Apple was said to seek BOE's help for the iPhone Fold display. However, the brand which supplies foldable OLEDs for brands like Huawei, Honor and Vivo failed to meet Apple's quality standards. This has resulted in Samsung binding Apple into an exclusive contract.
As per the latest report, Samsung Display is going to supply 3 million folding OLED panels in the first phase. It is said to enter production phase in Q2 2026 and volumes are said to be adjusted depending on Apple's supply chain demands and market response.
iPhone Fold Display (Rumoured)
One of the key reasons why Apple has delayed its foldable iPhone for so long is to fine-tune the crease of the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) panel. With Samsung now roped in, Apple is expected to make use of the Colour filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology on top of an M14 LEAD (non-polarised OLED) panel.
This will help Apple, as replacing the usual polariser layer with a colour filter layer will enhance the iPhone Fold's display endurance by reducing the number of microfractures and bending points. This is further expected to be combined with a laser-drilled metal plate for support, which helps disperse stress when folding and unfolding the screen.
Apple reportedly aims to achieve 0.15mm crease depth, which is higher than the foldable display of the Oppo Find N6, the only phone in existence with an almost invisible crease. However, since Apple is targeting a passport-like form factor with a 7.6-inch inner display, the wider aspect ratio might help Apple achieve the seamless crease design.
However, it will all add up to the cost, as the iPhone Fold price could start from $3,000 (approximately Rs 2,77,000). Since the iPhone Fold launch is on track and expected to launch this year itself, we just have to wait for a couple more months.
