Samsung to Supply Crease-Free Display for Apple’s Foldable iPhone, Expected in 2026

Highlights

• Apple’s first foldable iPhone will feature a crease-free display supplied by Samsung Display.
• It is expected to have an advanced hinge and microstructure design to boost durability and eliminate creases.
• The phone is expected to launch in 2026 featuring a 7.8″ inner display and a 5.5″ outer screen.

Apple’s much-anticipated foldable iPhone is in the spotlight again and this time it’s because of a key detail. Streets are saying we might get to see a crease-free folding display made by Samsung Display for the first foldable iPhone. Here’s more on that.

Foldable iPhone To Get Crease-Free Display, Thanks to Samsung

According to the recent word by well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Samsung will be the sole supplier of the foldable screen and Apple won’t be customising the panel this time, something it almost always does with hardware components. That makes this move particularly surprising.

Kuo says the foldable iPhone will use a “crease-free” display, made possible by a special metal plate that controls and spreads out the stress caused by repeated folding. These plates will be supplied mainly by Fine M-Tec, a company Apple will be working closely with.

It is interesting to remind our readers that Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold 7 still shows a visible crease on its foldable screen. So if the iPhone really ends up being crease-free, Samsung Display is likely building a special version just for Apple.

That raises the question, why hasn’t Samsung used this new tech in its own foldables, especially when it also uses metal plates from Fine M-Tec?

Foldable iPhone With Better Hinge, Better Fold

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman earlier reported that Apple’s foldable iPhone would feature a “much higher-quality hinge”, designed to create a nearly invisible crease when unfolded.

The hinge design plays a major role in making a foldable screen durable and smooth. Kuo explains that this metal plate and hinge combo is essential to controlling the stress on the display and preventing it from creasing over time.

Apple will reportedly take this a step further by using laser drilling to build microstructures inside the display. These microstructures will guide stress more evenly across the screen, enhancing durability and crease resistance. Fine M-Tec is expected to start shipping these metal plates in early 2026, at a cost of around $30–$35 each.

Foldable iPhone Specs and Launch Timeline

Apple is reportedly planning to begin mass production in the second half of 2026, meaning the foldable iPhone could launch sometime that year. According to earlier reports, the device is expected to feature –

• 8-inch inner display
• 5-inch outer display
• Two rear cameras
• One front camera
• Touch ID power button (instead of Face ID)

When unfolded, the foldable iPhone could measure about 4.5mm in thickness, and around 9–9.5mm when folded. That makes it slightly thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which measures 4.2mm unfolded and 8.9mm folded.

Foldable iPhone – Shipments and Production Scale

Kuo estimates that 13–15 million metal plates will be shipped in 2026. However, that doesn’t mean Apple will sell that many foldable iPhones. The higher number includes extra plates needed to account for manufacturing yield losses and repair stock.

Several South Korean publications have also reported that Samsung Display will be supplying the folding screens for Apple’s upcoming device, adding more weight to the rumour.

FAQs

Q1. Who will supply the crease-free display for Apple’s first foldable iPhone?

Answer. Samsung Display will be the sole supplier of the crease-free screen, using metal plates from Fine M-Tec to control folding stress and enhance durability.

Q2. What are the expected specifications of Apple’s foldable iPhone?

Answer. It’s expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display, 5.5-inch outer display, two rear cameras, one front camera, Touch ID power button, and a thickness of 4.5mm unfolded.

Q3. When is Apple likely to launch its foldable iPhone?

Answer. Mass production is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, with launch likely that same year; Apple aims to set new standards with a crease-free design.

Also Read:
Samsung-made displays for foldable iPhone could be more advanced than Galaxy Z Fold

Apple’s first foldable iPhone: What we know about the design, release date and price