Samsung could emerge as the unlikely hero for Apple’s foldable iPhone by supplying thicker glass to banish creases, a display analyst suggests. Yet, the real challenge lies in convincing manufacturers to produce it at scale for the 2026 launch.
Apple may be finalizing its plans to mass produce a foldable iPhone after all, since rumors had claimed that the company was vetting potential component suppliers.
The launch is expected to take place in the second half of 2026. One of the noticeable changes to the device is that it no longer has a visible crease. This is something that the company’s competitors have struggled with, even though they’ve been making similar smartphones for a long time.
But now a display analyst has spoken in, saying that Apple would have to use thicker glass instead of plastic to do rid of the crease.
X features an opinion piece from Ross Young, founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, who suggests that Apple employ thicker front glass to either eliminate the crease entirely or significantly reduce its appearance.
Whether they can eliminate the plastic hard coat which scratches too easily would be important. Going to thicker glass that can be chemically strengthened and selectively thinning the seam area would be good. https://t.co/NzKl3wgxYY
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) February 25, 2025
The fact that it can endure so many folds without showing signs of wear and tear suggests that chemical treatment may be necessary for this foldable iPhone component, as he notes.
He goes on to say that Apple’s concept would be even better if the seam area were thinner.
This strategy would work perfectly fine if Apple could locate a manufacturer ready to produce a thicker front glass on a large scale.
WCCFTECH’s best guess is that the California-based tech giant would use a “book-style” design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 for the foldable iPhone, and that Samsung will supply the OLED panels for both the primary and cover displays.
Presently, Samsung’s gadgets use UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) technology, which permits an infinite number of folding and unfolding cycles—but at the expense of that dreaded crease.
In order to manufacture the thicker front glass, Samsung may establish a separate factory.
To refresh your memory, the Korean behemoth did this before when it established a manufacturing line to mass produce tandem OLEDs for Apple’s M4 iPad Pro series, so you might be asking why it would do it again for a single client.
The project would not have been financially feasible without a large purchase from Apple, according to an earlier source, which is why Samsung had first declined. The only way to fix the fold on the foldable iPhone seems to be to make the front glass thicker, so maybe the two companies can work out a compromise.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
Discover more from Today's Esquire
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.