Apple’s debut foldable iPhone may land sometime around the second half of 2026. Right now, Apple may be in the final stretch of locking in the best suppliers for each component to bring a solid contender to the premium foldable space. And yes, it’s likely to go head-to-head with the Galaxy Z Fold, presumably the Z Fold 8 by then.
Apple taps Samsung as exclusive supplier of OLED panels for debut foldable iPhone
Apple has tapped Samsung Display as the exclusive supplier of OLED panels for its foldable iPhone, according to reports out of South Korea. It’s a big move for Apple, which typically splits orders between multiple suppliers to keep costs down and avoid relying too heavily on one partner. But this time, Apple seems to be going all in on Samsung.
Industry insiders, via BusinessKorea, say Samsung Display beat out LG Display and China’s BOE for the deal. The Korean giant is expected to start shipping panels as early as the end of this year. While exact volumes haven’t been confirmed, estimates point to over 15 million units annually. Well, that’s a solid jump from the earlier forecast of 9 million.
Previous leaks suggest the foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch main screen and a 5.5-inch outer display, with a book-style design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold lineup. As expected, it won’t come cheap. Rumors point to a price tag between $1,400 and $2,000, putting it in direct competition with Galaxy Z Fold line. It’s also rumored to feature under-display camera on the front.
Apple is trusting Samsung Display because of its dominance in foldable display tech
Apple’s choice to stick with a single supplier shows just how far ahead Samsung Display is in this space. Since 2019, Samsung has been the go-to for foldable panels, and its progress in reducing screen creasing—a long-standing pain point—has only widened the gap with rivals.
And for Samsung, this is a major win. Not only does it land a huge client. But it also gives the company a solid boost in a market that’s been heating up fast. Its share of the foldable OLED panel space had dipped due to rising competition from Chinese makers. And now with Apple in its corner, Samsung Display looks set to bounce back in a big way by 2026.
