[News] Samsung Display Reportedly Weighs OLED Expansion as Apple May Plan a Second Foldable for 2027

Samsung Display is reportedly evaluating an expansion of its OLED capacity for Apple’s foldable products. According to ETNews, the company is reviewing additional investment to strengthen production capabilities not only for Apple’s first foldable iPhone but also for next-generation models, reflecting Apple’s growing expectations for the foldable category.

As the report notes, Samsung Display is weighing new investment in foldable OLED production equipment at its A4 plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, with a focus on upgrading backplane-related processes, including thin-film transistor (TFT) lines. The overall direction has been set, and once the exact scale of the investment is finalized through internal review, capital spending is expected to begin in the second quarter, the report adds.

The company is expected to pursue capacity expansion as Apple is said to roll out another foldable iPhone model next year, according to the report. With both the new model and the first-generation device likely to be sold concurrently in 2027, foldable iPhone shipments are widely expected to increase, raising the number of foldable OLED panels Samsung Display will need to supply.

Samsung Display is expected to begin mass production of foldable OLED panels for Apple in June, the report highlights. The company has already established a dedicated Apple foldable OLED production line at its A3 facility, which has an annual capacity of approximately 15 million units based on 7-inch-class foldable OLED panels, according to the report.

The iPhone Fold, Apple’s first foldable phone following years of preparation, adopts an in-folding design. It features a 7.58-inch internal display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 5.35-inch external display, with around 10 million units slated for production in its first year, the report notes. The report also adds that Samsung Display is Apple’s sole supplier of foldable OLED panels and is expected to maintain its dominant position for several years.

Apple Evaluates Transparent PI Film; Kolon Industries in Focus

Beyond sourcing OLED panels from Samsung Display, Apple is also reportedly evaluating transparent polyimide (PI) film as the protective layer applied on top of ultra-thin glass (UTG) for the cover window of its first foldable product, according to The Elec. With Apple evaluating transparent PI film, South Korea’s Kolon Industries is increasingly seen as a possible supplier, the report notes.

Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market is widely expected to be a key catalyst for broader adoption. According to TrendForce, the anticipated launch of Apple’s first foldable device in the second half of 2026 is projected to lift foldable phone penetration from 1.6% in 2025 to over 3% by 2027.

Read more

• [News] Apple Reportedly Plans Clamshell-Style iPhone After First Foldable, Taking Aim at Galaxy Z Flip
• Standardized Hinges and Apple’s Entry Expected to Push Foldable Phone Penetration Beyond 3% by 2027, Says TrendForce
• [News] Samsung Reportedly Cuts Fold Crease 20% With Ultra-Thin Glass; Galaxy Z Fold 8, Apple May Adopt

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