For foldable phones, the biggest design pain point has always been the unavoidable crease in the middle of the screen. Now, it seems that some manufacturers have found a solution.
At CES 2026, Samsung Display showcased a foldable OLED display without creases. The panel claims to achieve "seamless text transitions across the entire foldable screen," thus providing a "seamless viewing experience."
Samsung also set up a "crease test" area at the event, displaying the new panel side-by-side with the panel used in the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the difference was extremely significant. The Fold 7 released last year had greatly reduced the visibility of the crease, but the crease was still visible at certain angles, while the new panel had almost no visible crease.
(Source: Samsung Display, tech leaker Ice Universe)
Samsung has not yet confirmed which models this panel will be used in, but it is very likely to appear in the Fold 8, which will be released in the second half of this year. What is attracting even more attention from the capital markets is that this panel may very well be used by Apple. On the first foldable iPhone .
Previous reports have indicated that Samsung is a panel supplier for Apple's foldable phone. Meanwhile, US consumer electronics... The reason why tech giants have not entered the foldable screen market for so many years is that they are waiting for a foldable screen panel that can be made without any visible creases .
The key to achieving a crease-free foldable screen lies in a "laser-drilled metal display panel." This structure disperses the stress generated when the screen is folded, resulting in no visible creases and enhancing screen durability. This metal panel is supplied by Fine MTec, a South Korean listed company whose stock price rose 86% last year and has since increased by another 14% at the start of this year.
(Fine MTec weekly chart, source: TradingView)
Although the crucial "crease-free panel" is in place, the foldable iPhone still faces production capacity challenges.
At the end of last month, renowned tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed in a research report that although development is behind schedule, the foldable iPhone will still be released in the second half of 2026. Due to early-stage yield and mass production ramp-up challenges, the new device may be in short supply until at least the end of 2026 .
After announcing its first foldable screen product, Apple may launch a second-generation foldable iPhone in 2027, while an iPad equipped with an OLED foldable screen is also in the development schedule.
Similar to the highly anticipated but ultimately unsuccessful Vision Pro, Apple's foldable phone will also face the test of consumer acceptance. Several well-known leakers and securities analysts predict that the first "iPhone Fold" will likely be priced between $2,000 and $2,500 , roughly double the price of the flagship iPhone Pro Max.
(Article source: CLS)
