Foldable without ironing fold: This is how the foldable iPhone should remain smooth

Apple’s planning for a first “iPhone Fold” is progressing: Details about the special screen of the devices have now been known. The supply chain expert Ming-Chi Kuo from the Finanzhaus TF International Securities from Taiwan writes in one New report to investorswho will be one of the suppliers for the flexible OLED display. In contrast to current foldables, for example from Samsung or Huawei, it should not have a visible “ironing fold” in the area that is folded when closing. So users should be faced with an almost flat screen.

Better distribute bending stress

According to Kuo, Apple has brought another partner on board for this “creas-free” display in addition to the actual panel-ready Samsung. This is said to be the South Korean company Fine M-Tecthat operates, among other things, fine mechanical metal punch. Special metal plates are to be created there, which can derive the deformation stress of the foldable OLED.

“The main cause of wrinkles for foldable smartphone displays is the voltage concentration at the folding spots with repeated bending, which leads to material fatigue and permanent deformations,” writes Kuo. The metal plates therefore help to distribute the bending voltage so that the display material does not exceed its elasticity limit and “thus minimized the likelihood of wrinkle formation”. Apparently it is a prophecy Apple technique, at least so far Samsung & Co. have nothing similar on offer. According to Kuo, Fine M-Tec will produce for Apple, especially in Vietnam, and will probably build extra production capacities there. The metal plates are surprisingly expensive: between $ 30 and $ 35 each. In 2026, Fine M-Tec could deliver up to 15 million units. Apple wants a microstructure in the panels that are created using a laser drill. They should better distribute the stress.

Questions of thinness

According to previous rumors, the new iPhone Fold (real name is still unknown) should represent up to 7.8 inches and therefore do not have quite as much screen surface as an iPad mini (8.3 inches). A outdoor screen can be used with (only) 5.5 inches, Kuo claims. For comparison: iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max come with a (single) 6.3- or 6.9-inch screen.

Supposedly the iPhone fold should be 4.5 mm thick in the thinnest areas (outside the camera area) if it is opened, in the folded state between 9 and 9.5 mm. An iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max is 8.25 mm thick by default. The Galaxy 7 fold from Samsung is thinner: 4.2 mm opened, 8.9 mm folded. Delivery of the first iPhone foldables cannot be expected before autumn 2027. The iPhone-17 family follows this September.