After years of refining the foldable phone game, Samsung may end up handing Apple its biggest foldable win yet. 
The upcoming foldable iPhone-rumored to debut next year-won’t be a trailblazer in the category, but rather a polished entry into a market that Samsung has already carved out with its Galaxy Z Fold lineup.
Over seven iterations, Samsung has tackled critical issues like creaky hinges, display creases, and bulkiness. With the Galaxy Z Fold 7 now in users’ hands, we’re finally seeing a foldable that’s sleek, reliable, and has mainstream potential. This device is what made the foldable form factor viable-just in time for Apple to swoop in with its own version.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s foldable will adopt a similar book-style design and even use foldable OLED panels supplied by Samsung. That means Apple’s biggest rival is also helping supply the very tech it’ll compete with. It’s an ironic twist, but not uncommon in the hyper-connected world of smartphone supply chains.
What makes this launch different for Apple is that it’s not leading the charge. The company that redefined smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches is now joining a party already in full swing. But Apple isn’t known for being first-it’s known for getting it right. And early reports say Apple is working to fix persistent foldable pain points, like hinge feel and display creases, which could make its foldable more refined than the competition.
This could be a game-changer for loyal iPhone users who’ve been intrigued by foldables but didn’t want to jump into Android. By keeping them in the iOS ecosystem, Apple stands to boost engagement and revenue-especially with a rumored $2,000 price tag that would raise its average selling price without needing massive unit volumes.
And with markets like China already warming up to foldables from brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, Apple’s timing could be strategic. The company has been struggling in China, and a high-end foldable might be just the device to rekindle its local appeal.
In the end, Samsung may have done all the heavy lifting-but Apple could still walk away with the glory. And that might not be a bad thing for the industry. The more foldables in the hands of users, the more innovation we’ll likely see. Whether you’re team Android or team iPhone, things are about to get a lot more interesting.