Apple foldable iPhone screen enters mass production ahead of 2026 launch

Saturday 14 March 2026 - 11:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Apple foldable iPhone screen enters mass production ahead of 2026 launch

Apple is moving closer to launching its first foldable smartphone, with display panels for the device expected to enter mass production in May, according to a leak reported by 9to5Mac citing Chinese tipster Instant Digital. The device, widely referred to as the iPhone Fold, is expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026.

The start of screen production marks one of the final steps before full device assembly begins. Earlier reports from the same source indicated that mass production of the completed iPhone Fold is scheduled to begin in July, consistent with Apple’s typical manufacturing ramp ahead of its annual fall product launches.

Samsung will supply the foldable OLED panels used in the device. However, Apple reportedly designed the display structure, materials, and lamination process internally in order to meet its quality standards.

The central goal of Apple’s foldable project is to eliminate the visible crease that has affected most competing foldable phones since Samsung introduced the first Galaxy Fold seven years ago. Apple is said to have rejected several early panel prototypes before Samsung met the company’s technical requirements.

The device’s hinge incorporates liquid metal components that distribute stress more evenly along the fold. According to reports, the crease depth is expected to remain below 0.15 millimeters with a folding angle of less than 2.5 degrees.

Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman described the result as a benchmark crease that should be far less visible than those seen on existing foldable smartphones.

The foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8 inch internal display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 5.5 inch external screen. It will reportedly run on Apple’s A20 Pro chip paired with 12 gigabytes of RAM supplied by Samsung Electronics.

Apple plans to offer three storage configurations: 256 gigabytes, 512 gigabytes, and one terabyte.

Software support is also expected to evolve for the new form factor. Bloomberg reported that iOS 27 will introduce interface elements inspired by iPad multitasking, including side by side app usage and redesigned layouts featuring sidebars and split screen capabilities. Full iPad applications will not be supported, but the system will adapt the interface to make better use of the foldable display.

Pricing for the iPhone Fold is expected to start at around 2,000 dollars. The top tier one terabyte model could reach approximately 2,400 dollars, according to Gurman’s Power On newsletter.

Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has forecast shipments of between three million and five million units. However, he warned that early manufacturing yield challenges could limit supply and potentially extend shortages into 2027.

Despite its premium positioning, analysts believe the foldable iPhone will initially represent a relatively small share of Apple’s overall smartphone sales. Gurman estimated it could account for between five percent and ten percent of total iPhone shipments in its first year.

Even so, the product is seen as one of Apple’s most ambitious hardware launches in recent years and arrives as the company approaches its fiftieth anniversary.