Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

[MacRumors]

Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports.

The first foldable iPhone's displays are being produced by Samsung Display, who are establishing a production line dedicated to the upcoming Apple device its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. The production line will make displays exclusively for the foldable iPhone and work on the facility is now believed to be in its final stage. It will be capable of producing 15 million 7-inch foldable OLED panels per year.

Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to feature an inward-folding OLED display. It will likely sit alongside the other models in next year's iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max. It will be refreshed annually in the fall just like the other models.

Apple is apparently planning to produce six to eight million foldable iPhones in 2026. While Samsung's production capacity of 15 million displays per year far exceeds Apple's requirements for 2026, the supplier is said to be preparing for new models and increasing sales in subsequent years.

Samsung Display apparently has secured an agreement with provide Apple with foldable displays as the sole supplier for several years. While Apple usually prefers to diversify its supply chain where possible, Samsung has unique technological expertise in foldable OLED displays due to offering its own foldable smartphones, which it has been making commercially since 2019.

As a result, Samsung is likely to remain the exclusive supplier of Apple's foldable iPhone displays for some time and a least be a key supplier thereafter. Samsung Display similarly led Apple's transition from LCD to OLED with the iPhone X and iPhone XS.

Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to feature a super-thin design at 4.5mm, a 4:3 iPad-style 7-inch inner display with no visible crease, a durable hinge, a dual rear camera system with wide and ultra wide options, the "A20" chip, and Touch ID instead of Face ID. It could cost over $2,000.

Article Link: Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

 

[koynoyno]

I wonder whether it will support iPadOS features. Maybe there will be a new movement of people asking to bring iPadOS to foldable iPhone.

 

[Dave245]

This will be interesting, IOS mixed with iPad OS maybe? Apple Pencil support would also be a good idea.

 

[omenatarhuri]

Dang, I guess gotta keep the 13p for one more year…

 

[257Loner]

Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports.

Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to feature a super-thin design at 4.5mm, a 4:3 iPad-style 7-inch inner display with no visible crease, a durable hinge, a dual rear camera system with wide and ultra wide options, the "A20" chip, and Touch ID instead of Face ID. It could cost over $2,000.

These rumors have been debunked. The iPhone Fold will actually feature a thick design at 11mm, a 16:9 Windows-style 5-inch inner display with a conspicuous crease, a flimsy hinge, only one rear wide camera, the A10, and no ID. It'll cost a modest $799.

And no one will ever need anything more than that.

 

[tim_apple]

I will be really interested to see how Apple does the UI on a foldable. Although I’m a bit confused. Will this just be an iPhone that folds in half for compactness with no outer display?

 

[Jaziry]

Why this early?

 

[Kylo83]

7is small the new Samsung is 8 and that feels about right

 

[Kylo83]

Also the iPhone is newly 7in in size so what extra screen would you get it’s not big enough the inside display should be 8

 

[t0rqx]

All this will give people is just a larger homescreen with more icons when unfolded. Just like that the screens went from 3.5 inch to 6.9 inch. Just added 1 extra row. No real expansion of workspace.

This device is just gonna be lack luster.

Not even gonna mention the small print that says you have to unfold it at 2 mm/s with a force of 0.03N to decrease the chance of #foldgate.

 

[t0rqx]

I wonder whether it will support iPadOS features. Maybe there will be a new movement of people asking to bring iPadOS to foldable iPhone.

Craig already hinted at the new name: iOSpork OS.

 

[Kylo83]

Apple just copy the fold 7 and it will be good

 

[TracerAnalog]

I'm secretly hoping for a 'one more thing' this year... one can dream 😅.

 

[The Game 161]

Can’t wait a 2 in 1 iPhone and iPad mini will be so good

 

[LeMo]

I honestly would prefer a folding phone that I can use with half the screen most of the time that then becomes a bigger, wider device when I want.

It's like a book, I don't want to have to open the book to see what the book is about....

 

[Kylo83]

I want the form factor like the fold 7 a normal size unfolded and then a big 8in iPad style inside and make split screen apps, using the fold 7 yesterday really made me jealous because it’s so well made and the software is great

 

[Ifti]

I generally like to miss out on the first gen with a new release such as this. Let them iron out the bugs and maybe I'll try the second gen.......maybe......

 

[JapanApple]

“Touch ID instead of Face ID. It could cost over $2,000.”

Start at ok. cost over $2,000 I will not be buying.i keep hold on my 14 pro max

 

[rembert]

This is for me in the category “meh - I really don’t need this”.

I’m only looking forward to a new mini, however, as my 13 mini is still going strong, I can wait. And when it breaks down or when it’s not supported anymore while Apple didn’t bring a new mini, I will jump ship towards Fair Phone with /e/os as the operating system. I’ve been using iPhones since 2008.

 

[q64ceo]

Not for me, but there are some folks out there who'd love it. So I hope it sells well.

 

[klasma]

I will be really interested to see how Apple does the UI on a foldable. Although I’m a bit confused. Will this just be an iPhone that folds in half for compactness with no outer display?

It will have an outer display. See https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/rumoured-iphone-fold-size-concept-drawing-and-renders.2456447/.

 

[Ctrlos]

They've got some serious competition with the Fold 7. That thing is gorgeous and will have been on the market for over a year by the time Apple gets theirs out the door. I'm assuming Apple has been waiting for the technology to make it fully IP68 to mature however.

I don't think it needs to run iPadOS. iOS is already capable of running apps in a 'hidden' windows mode and App Store binaries contain the code for iPhone and iPad apps together. Analysts assumed this was for a desktop mode but it's more likely to be for a folding internal display.

It's genuinely exciting regardless!

 

[klasma]

Also the iPhone is newly 7in in size so what extra screen would you get it’s not big enough the inside display should be 8

It's not comparable that way, due to the different aspect ratios. Here is the 15 Pro Max vs. the inner display:

 

[klasma]

I honestly would prefer a folding phone that I can use with half the screen most of the time that then becomes a bigger, wider device when I want.

It's like a book, I don't want to have to open the book to see what the book is about....

You're in luck, that's what the iPhone Fold will be.

 

[BOB-86]

$2,000…… no thanks