According to a new ETNews report this morning, Apple has started preparing to produce a foldable iPhone. It has been found that the selection of suppliers for parts to be used in the foldable iPhone is imminent. Apple is said to have significantly improved the display crease, which was considered the biggest drawback of foldable smartphones, and this is drawing attention.

According to comprehensive reporting on the 20th, Apple plans to make a final decision on the foldable iPhone supply chain by April. It plans to select suppliers of materials and parts to be installed in the actual product based on the results of the work done with suppliers in the meantime.

This means that the production of the foldable iPhone is approaching. It is expected that full-scale mass production of materials and parts, that is, the supply chain, will begin in the second half of the year. An industry insider familiar with the matter said, “Apple has been preparing for the foldable phone and is nearing the final selection as it narrows down the candidates.”

Apple usually selects the final technical specifications and suppliers a year before the release of a new product. This is to prepare in advance for smooth product mass production and supply. In light of this, Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to be released in the second half of 2026.

The display (OLED), which is the core of the foldable iPhone, is expected to be supplied entirely by Samsung Display. According to comprehensive reporting, Samsung Display has been the sole developer of the display for Apple's foldable phone since last year. It is interpreted that the fact that it was the first to create and successfully mass-produce foldable OLED was effective. The foldable iPhone is understood to have an 'infolding' structure in which the screen folds inward. It is expected to implement an appearance similar to an open book (as illustrated in our cover graphic.

It is known that the display wrinkle, which was considered the biggest challenge in the industry and the limitation of foldable technology, has been greatly improved. Apple set strict technical requirements to overcome the weakness of foldable phones where wrinkles form at the folded part of the screen, and it is evaluated that it is close to the desired level. Another industry insider said, “Apple decided to eliminate the crease regardless of the price in order to differentiate it from existing foldable phones,” and “I understand that they eliminated the crease with new properties.” Unfortunately, OPPO's new N5 foldable has beaten Apple to market with a display that has no crease as noted in the image from OPPO below.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

ETNews further noted that the crease in the folded area is closely related not only to the display materials and components, but also to the hinge that goes into the smartphone body. It is reported that cooperation between related companies was promoted because they are organically connected. In particular, the cover glass attached to the top of the display and the hinge are considered key components that differentiate the performance of foldable phones, and Apple has overcome this.

According to comprehensive reporting, Corning in the US is likely to be the main supplier of the cover glass. Apple has been using Corning glass for its iPhones and has also invested directly in Corning. In order to apply glass to foldable phones, the glass must be processed thinly, and domestic and Chinese companies are being mentioned as the ones making this ultra-thin glass (UTG). Samsung Display is pushing forward with a plan to supply the final display by handling glass processing through domestic partners, but Apple is also said to be pushing forward with establishing its own supply chain to reduce dependence.

The main hinge supplier has been narrowed down to Amphenol of the United States. Amphenol is an electronic components company that was previously included in Apple’s supply chain, and its hinges have been applied to MacBook Pros. It is known that Chinese companies such as Vivo mainly adopt it for smartphones.

In a new Counterpoint report last Friday, China's foldable smartphone sales grew 27% YoY in 2024, with Huawei the clear leader. China is the world’s largest and most competitive foldable smartphone market with many domestic Android OEMs vying for the segment. With strong brand equity, Huawei’s dominance in China’s foldable segment was further solidified in 2024. It captured half of the foldable sales in China. Its bestsellers spanned both book-type and clamshell-type foldables.

In the Chinese market, over 67% of foldable sales are book-type, while clamshell-type foldables account for 23%. This aligns with Counterpoint’s China Consumer Study, which shows that the country’s consumers tend to prefer book-type foldables. Another key factor driving the adoption of book-type foldables is their significant improvement in durability and user experience compared to first-generation devices. As technology advances, foldable smartphones are seeing major enhancements in areas like thickness, hinge, weight, battery life and camera. Notably, the weight and thickness of book-type foldables are now approaching that of traditional bar phones, making them more user-friendly for a wider range of consumers. These devices are no longer predominantly used by men or business professionals but are also expanding to female consumers. For instance, OPPO is set to continue to support this trend with its upcoming launch of the flagship Find N5, which will be the slimmest book-type foldable in the market, measuring just 8.93 mm.

Apple needs to deliver a foldable to compete with Huawei and other Chinese foldable smartphone vendors. The sooner the better.