Apple has locked itself into a three-year exclusive display supply deal with Samsung for its upcoming foldable iPhone, abandoning its usual multi-supplier strategy because no other manufacturer can meet its technical requirements.
The Korean display maker will provide all foldable OLED panels for what's expected to be called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra through at least 2029, according to industry reports. Samsung Display proposed the exclusive arrangement, and Apple reportedly accepted due to the lack of viable alternatives.
Current Chinese supplier BOE's foldable panels don't meet Apple's quality standards, while LG Display hasn't yet developed folding screens for smartphones. The situation leaves Apple unusually dependent on a direct competitor that also produces Samsung Galaxy Z Fold devices.
Production of the specialized displays will begin in the second quarter of this year as originally planned, with an initial shipment target of three million units by year-end.
That conservative volume suggests Apple is taking a cautious approach to demand for what could be its most expensive iPhone ever. The foldable device is predicted to start at approximately $2,325, nearly double the base price of today's iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Early engineering tests have reportedly encountered technical challenges around display creasing and hinge mechanisms, though development continues toward a potential September launch window.
Samsung will supply panels using its CoE (Color filter on Encapsulation) technology, which removes polarizers and forms color filters directly on the encapsulation layer. The screens will use the same M14 OLED materials as standard iPhones rather than requiring new manufacturing processes.
Conflicting reports continue about whether Apple's first foldable will arrive this fall or face delays into 2027. Bloomberg indicates development is progressing smoothly toward a traditional September announcement, while Nikkei Asia suggests engineering issues could push back initial shipments by several months.
