Apple Signs Samsung OLED Deal for iPhone Fold Through 2028, Report Says
Apple reportedly locks Samsung OLED for iPhone Fold
iPhone Fold Reportedly Gets Samsung OLED Deal Apple has reportedly agreed to use Samsung OLED panels exclusively for the iPhone Fold, also referred to as the iPhone Fold Ultra, through 2028, according to a report from South Korean tech publication The Elec. The report says Samsung Display is expected to supply the foldable OLED panels for the next three years, with around three million units planned in the initial production phase.
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The display is said to use Samsung's Colour Filter on Encapsulation, or CoE, OLED technology. The report also says production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with volumes adjusted based on Apple’s supply chain needs and market response.
Samsung Display set for initial supply run
People following the matter said Apple had previously considered BOE for the iPhone Fold display, but the company did not meet Apple’s quality standards. The report says that development led Apple to rely on Samsung for the exclusive supply arrangement. Samsung already supplies foldable OLED panels to brands including Huawei, Honor and Vivo, and now appears positioned to handle Apple’s first foldable iPhone display as well.
The report says Samsung Display will supply about three million foldable OLED panels in the first phase. Those panels are expected to enter production in Q2 2026. The volumes may change depending on Apple’s demand and how the market responds, according to the report. No official launch date was included in the input beyond the claim that the iPhone Fold is still expected to arrive this year.
iPhone Fold display details remain under watch
The display is described as using Samsung’s CoE technology on top of an M14 LEAD non-polarised OLED panel. The report says this setup replaces the usual polariser layer with a colour filter layer, which is expected to help with display endurance by reducing microfractures and bending points. It is also said to be paired with a laser-drilled metal plate for support, which would help spread stress when the screen is folded and unfolded.
The long-rumoured foldable iPhone has been linked to Apple’s effort to improve the crease on the Ultra Thin Glass, or UTG, panel. The report says Apple is aiming for a crease depth of 0.15mm. That figure is described as higher than the foldable display on the Oppo Find N6, which the input says is the only phone in existence with an almost invisible crease. The wider aspect ratio of Apple’s planned passport-like form factor, along with a 7.6-inch inner display, is said to be part of the design approach.
The report also says the iPhone Fold price could start from $3,000, which is approximately Rs 2,77,000. The input says the launch is on track and expected this year, though no specific date was provided. For now, the key development is the reported exclusive Samsung OLED deal, the expected 2026 production timeline, and the first-phase panel supply target of three million units.
Reported display points
- Samsung OLED panels reportedly exclusive for iPhone Fold until 2028
- Samsung Display expected to supply around 3 million foldable OLED panels
- Production said to begin in Q2 2026
- Display said to use Colour Filter on Encapsulation, or CoE, OLED technology
- Apple reportedly targeting 0.15mm crease depth
- iPhone Fold price could start at $3,000, or about Rs 2,77,000