Apple’s foldable iPhone rumors intensify: Samsung Display denial and leaked specs

A fresh wave of rumors about Apple’s first foldable iPhone has reignited industry discussion. Posts circulating on X claimed Apple had signed a supply deal with Samsung Display for 11 million foldable OLED panels for the inner screen and another 11 million for the outer display. Figures like that would suggest an entry into foldables with far more conviction than many expected.

Samsung quickly pushed back. In a formal note, a representative of the company’s global communications team said reports that it would produce 11 million OLED displays for a foldable iPhone were inaccurate. True to form, Samsung did not share any information about customers or shipment volumes, leaving the Apple project shrouded in uncertainty—and doing little to dampen speculation.

Even so, the chatter keeps building. The initial ET News report—later removed—said Apple was preparing around 10 million units for a first-generation foldable iPhone, an unusually bold target. For comparison, the entire foldable smartphone market is currently estimated at about 20 million devices a year.

Leaked details point to a book-style design with two displays: a 7.58-inch main panel and a 5.35-inch outer screen. Apple is said to be using Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE) and an Under Display Camera (UDC) to reduce the visibility of the crease, still one of the segment’s biggest pain points. If accurate, that approach hints at an attempt to tackle the category’s weak spots rather than simply mirror rivals.