Apple’s Foldable iPhone Aims to Fix Major Flaw in Flexible Screen Smartphones

Apple may address the major design flaw in foldable phones with its upcoming iPhone Flip, showcasing how this significant innovation is unfolding.

Apple Joins the Foldable Phone Race

It has been over five years since Samsung introduced the first commercially available foldable phone. Despite positive reviews, foldables haven’t yet become mainstream. Apple’s entry with its first foldable device could be a game-changer. The Cupertino-based giant, commanding over half of the U.S. smartphone market, aims to address a specific design flaw before its debut.

A Major Challenge: Eliminating the Crease

According to Korean media outlet ET News, production of Apple’s inaugural foldable phone is expected to start in the latter half of this year. The company’s goal is to eliminate the visible crease that forms where the screen bends. “Apple has decided to eliminate the crease at all costs, whatever the expense, to set its foldable apart from existing models,” reported an industry source. A new material has been developed to help achieve this.

Advancing Foldable Screen Technology

While efforts to minimize the crease have been notable—less visible on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 compared to the original Galaxy Fold—it remains detectable to the naked eye. However, most users report not noticing it after some use.

Partnering with Amphenol on the Hinge

While Samsung Display will handle the OLED screen production for Apple’s future foldable phone, Amphenol, a company previously involved in MacBook hinges, will take charge of the critical hinge mechanism.

Apple’s first foldable phone is expected to launch in the second half of 2026, likely alongside the iPhone 18 in September of that year. Clearly, after several false starts, Apple appears ready to take on the foldable phone market.