Apple is the largest smartphone maker yet to release a foldable device. The size of the crease was reportedly a major issue for the leadership at Cupertino and it stalled the project as Apple’s display suppliers worked on ways to shrink it.
Samsung Display and Samsung Display alone has finally solved the issue, reports Business Korea, and the project can proceed with a target launch in the second half of 2026. Typically, Apple uses a mix of Samsung, LG and BOE displays for its products, so having a single supplier is unusual – but it would be a big win for Samsung Display, which has seen its market share slip in recent years.
Anyway, the foldable iPhone is said to have a 5.5” OLED cover display and a 7.8” main display. It would be a book-style foldable and will compete directly against Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8.
Samsung foldable display demo
The foldable iPhone will be predictably expensive – early estimates put it at over $2,000, though with the recent bout of tariffs it could be more expensive than expected.
Apple has yet to settle on a production target for the foldable iPhone – insiders suggest that it will target 9 million or more a year, though it could be as high as 15 million units a year.
