Apple’s first foldable iPhone could have a major Samsung connection at its core, with Samsung Display reportedly preparing to become the exclusive supplier of the device’s inner folding screen under a three-year agreement, according to the Times of India.
The reported deal could give Samsung a significant role in Apple’s long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone market. The device has been referred to in leaks as the “iPhone Duo,” with Samsung Display reportedly expected to supply panels not only for the first model but also for subsequent versions.
According to Weibo leaker Instant Digital, Samsung Display has entered into a three-year exclusive supply agreement with Apple and could charge about $250 for each inner folding display panel.
Neither Apple nor Samsung has publicly confirmed the reported agreement or the alleged $250 price.
The display is expected to be one of the most technically challenging parts of Apple’s foldable iPhone. Unlike a conventional smartphone screen, a foldable panel must repeatedly bend without sacrificing brightness, color accuracy or durability.
Industry reports have indicated that Samsung could also be involved in assembling the display’s dual Ultra Thin Glass, or UTG, structure. Samsung partner Dowoo Insys is reportedly involved in supplying the UTG layers, while Samsung Display develops the OLED panel at the center of the display.
If the reported figure is accurate, Apple’s inner foldable display would be substantially more expensive than the OLED panels used in its conventional iPhones.
READ: Apple expected to launch first foldable iPhone this week, reports say (
Apple was previously estimated to pay Samsung Display and LG Display roughly $70 for panels used in models such as the iPhone 18 Pro Max. A foldable display commands a much higher price because it has to withstand repeated folding while maintaining image quality and structural strength.
The foldable iPhone’s display has also been described in reports as incorporating 10 layers, including a nano-texture layer. The additional engineering and materials could help explain the sharp difference in cost compared with traditional smartphone displays.
At a reported $250, the inner screen alone would account for about one-eighth of the device’s rumored $1,999 starting price, or roughly Rs 2,99,900 in India.
The bigger question is whether Apple can turn that expensive technology into a mass-market product.
One forecast has suggested that Apple could ship more than five million foldable iPhones by the end of 2026, potentially giving the company about a 25% share of the global foldable smartphone market. Those numbers are projections rather than confirmed sales estimates and could change significantly once Apple launches the device and consumer demand becomes clearer.
Still, the reported supply agreement highlights an intriguing dynamic surrounding Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Even as Apple prepares to enter a category that Samsung helped popularize, it may rely heavily on Samsung’s display expertise to build the screen that makes the device possible.
For Samsung, meanwhile, supplying a key component for a potential iPhone blockbuster could turn Apple’s long-awaited entry into the foldable market into another major opportunity for its display business.