iPhone Fold Release Date: Apple Prepares ‘3 Million’ New Devices
iPhone Fold Release Date: Apple Prepares ‘3 Million’ New Devices
Publish Date: 2026-06-22 17:03:00
Source Domain: www.forbes.com
Apple is pushing ahead with production of its first foldable phone, even as it warns that iPhone 18 prices are set to rise. Two new reports from Korean media show that Samsung will exclusively produce panels for the iPhone Fold, and that Apple is taking a cautious approach with its initial order of foldable displays. A September launch is being “discussed” but the screen isn’t the problem, the hinge is.
Samsung Is Making The iPhone Fold Screen
According to The Elec and ET News, Samsung Display and LG have started producing OLED displays for the iPhone 18 series, with Samsung exclusively making panels for the iPhone Fold.
For the foldable phone, Samsung and Apple have signed an exclusive 3-year deal to make the flexible handset’s OLED screens, with the initial order for this year’s device at roughly 3 million units.
The Google Pixel Pro Fold series will go head to head with Apple’s iPhone Fold this year. (Photo by Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images)
dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images
That isn’t a surprise, Samsung Display has eight generations of experience in making durable and reliable foldable screens that are used in the Galaxy Z Fold series.
One of company’s recent(ish) screen advancements, CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) technology, which makes screens thinner, brighter and up to 37% more efficient, will be used in the iPhone Fold. The iPhone Fold screen will also utilise Samsung’s M16 OLED material, which will mean improved power efficiency, color performance and brightness.
As we’ve seen with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 phones, marginal gains in the power efficiency department are essential for powering two displays on a single lithium-ion battery. Silicon Carbon batteries could potentially solve that, but I don’t see Apple dipping its toes into largely untested battery technology in a brand new product category for the company. One battle at a time.
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