Foldable iPhone may use Samsung's crease-proof screen instead of Apple's custom design

Foldable iPhone may use Samsung’s crease-proof screen instead of Apple’s custom design

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2025

Apple has been predicted to turn to Samsung for crease-proof screens for the first foldable iPhone instead of its custom but-not-quite-ready-yet solution.

Apple reportedly does not want to risk foldable iPhone delays, so it’s opted to use a proven solution from Samsung instead of its own solution. Outlined in various patents, Apple’s invention leverages a sophisticated hinge mechanism said to make the display crease virtually invisible, even after continued use.

Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote in a research note on Medium that Apple opted for Samsung’s solution to ensure mass production can begin in summer 2026 to launch the first foldable iPhone on schedule in the second half of 2026.

Foldable iPhone may use Samsung’s crease-proof screens

“My latest industry survey indicates Apple is expected to adopt SDC’s (Samsung Display) crease-free display solution rather than its own design to ensure stable mass production of the foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026,” he wrote.

The crease appears due to the stress at the folding point that increases with repeated bending, leading to material fatigue and permanent deformation. A hinge helps with that by preventing a flexible display panel from exceeding its elastic limit.

Kuo notes the hinge “must be highly integrated with the display design.” Samsung’s crease-free solution includes a hinge mechanism designed and manufactured by Fine M-Tec. The supplier will expand its Vietnam production capacity for Apple, with the first batch of hinges starting to ship to Apple in the first quarter of 2026. The company will charge Apple an estimated $30-$35 per piece.

The relatively high price is a result of Apple’s strict specifications; whereas Samsung’s display-making arm currently uses etching to manufacture the hinge, the company will switch to laser drilling to meet Apple’s stricter crease-free display requirements. The process creates microscopic structures “that better guide stress distribution and enhance crease resistance,” Kuo notes.

Samsung’s manufacturing expertise

Samsung has been making foldable devices for several years now, the latest models being the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip, so it has had time to evolve its manufacturing processes. Although Kuo doesn’t say it, Apple has probably reached the conclusion that its own solution isn’t ready for market adoption yet so it’s decided to play it safe and go with Samsung as a safer bet for mass production.

Business Korea reported in April 2025 that Apple formally commissioned Samsung Display to build flexible OLED panels for its first foldable release. LG Display and BOE, which build screens for some Apple products, did not make the cut.

A source speaking to the publication described the decision as proof of Samsung’s expertise in building high-quality foldable screens. The first Galaxy Fold launched in 2019, so Samsung has been making commercial foldable OLED technology for six years now. “For Apple, which prioritizes quality over price when selecting component suppliers, Samsung was the only viable choice,” noted an industry insider.

Industry publication ET News reported this month that Samsung may have built a whole new production line at its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, just for folding iPhone displays. According to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, the device recently entered prototype testing. The first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18 range in September 2026.

Tags Apple Display iPhone Manufacturing Production Rumor Rumors
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