The rumors about a foldable iPhone are heating up once again, and this time they seem much more plausible. Recent reports indicate that Samsung Display is gearing up to supply Apple with foldable OLED panels, which means a foldable iPhone might just be on the horizon for next year. According to industry insiders, Samsung Display is setting up a dedicated production line for Apple at its A3 plant in Asan, South Korea. Production reportedly started in the second half of last year and is nearing completion. Once the line is fully operational, Samsung could potentially produce around 15 million foldable OLED panels annually, equating to 1.25 million units each month. This aligns with previous rumors suggesting that Apple plans to ship between 15 to 20 million foldable iPhones in the future. However, it’s been reported that Apple’s target for 2026 is more conservative, aiming for 6 to 8 million foldable iPhones to start. This production scale suggests Samsung is preparing for Apple’s eventual expansion into the foldable market. For now, Samsung is said to have secured an exclusive deal to supply Apple with these foldable OLEDs for the next few years. While Apple usually prefers working with multiple suppliers for backup, Samsung’s expertise in foldables gives it a significant advantage.
Samsung has been a leader in the foldable market since 2019 and is now on its seventh generation of foldable devices.
Meanwhile, Samsung has just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, both thinner, lighter, and more refined than their predecessors. The Z Fold 7, in particular, is Samsung’s slimmest book-style foldable yet. Although it dropped S Pen support to achieve this sleek design, it represents a major leap forward compared to earlier models. It’s fascinating to think that Samsung not only continues to make its own foldables but is also helping Apple enter this category, potentially competing directly with its own products. This highlights how advanced Samsung’s foldable technology has become.
Apple, on the other hand, is reportedly aiming to enter the foldable market with a polished and reliable product right from the start. Partnering with Samsung for displays only reinforces how much trust Apple has in Samsung’s foldable technology. Despite the competition, Apple’s entry into the foldable market likely won’t pose an immediate threat to Samsung. While it will target iOS users who are already embedded in the Apple ecosystem, it probably won’t sway many Android users. Nevertheless, this marks a pivotal moment in the foldable phone market, as Apple’s involvement could help drive its overall growth. The foldable iPhone may debut alongside the iPhone 18 series in 2026, but with Apple, we never really know until the official announcement.