Apple is reportedly preparing to enter the foldable smartphone market, and a new report suggests the company will rely heavily on Samsung Display for a key component. According to a report from Korean publication The Elec, Apple is expected to source foldable OLED panels exclusively from Samsung Display for its first foldable iPhone.
Industry sources cited in the report claim that Samsung Display will be the sole supplier of foldable screens for Apple for at least the next three years. During this period, Apple is not expected to procure foldable OLED panels from any other manufacturer, highlighting Samsung Display’s technological lead in the foldable display segment.
Production of these foldable OLED panels is reportedly scheduled to begin in the second quarter of the year. Initial shipments are expected to reach around three million units, which may indicate Apple’s early production targets for its first foldable device.
The foldable panels are said to feature advanced CoE (Color-on-Encapsulation) technology. This technology places the color filter layer above the encapsulation layer, eliminating the need for a polarizer. By removing the polarizer, the display becomes thinner and lighter while also improving power efficiency and brightness — features that are particularly important for foldable devices.
In addition to the CoE technology, the panels are also expected to use Samsung’s M14 luminescent material. The same advanced material is reportedly used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, suggesting Apple intends to maintain premium display quality even in its first foldable device.
The upcoming foldable iPhone is rumored to be launched later this year. Reports suggest Apple could unveil the device in September alongside its next-generation flagship smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
While Apple has not officially confirmed plans for a foldable phone, industry reports and supply chain leaks indicate that development is well underway. If the reports prove accurate, Apple’s foldable iPhone — possibly branded as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra — could mark the company’s biggest design shift in years.