Samsung Z Fold 8 and Apple's foldable iPhone: two paths to a crease-free screen

Samsung and Apple appear to be taking different routes to tackle one of the biggest headaches of foldable phones: the visible crease. At CES 2026, Samsung showed what it calls the first foldable display without a noticeable fold line, and ZDNet Korea reports that this exact panel is slated for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8. If so, the next model could become Samsung’s first foldable with no visible crease.

It had been assumed that Apple’s first foldable iPhone would adopt a similar display, but fresh leaks point to a different strategy. Although the OLED layer in Samsung and Apple’s devices is rumored to be the same, the two companies are reinforcing the screen in distinct ways. Samsung has abandoned the traditional PET plastic layer in favor of a thin metal reinforcing plate that holds its shape better and is less prone to long-term deformation.

Apple, by contrast, is said to be betting on glass as a structural element. Glass can spread the bending load more evenly, but it calls for more complex engineering and extremely tight tolerances to preserve both flexibility and strength. In addition, Samsung Display has adjusted the composition of the transparent adhesive between display layers, making it softer. That tweak helps absorb stress during folding and lowers the likelihood of fine wrinkles that can grow into a visible crease over time.

Modern foldable OLEDs are multilayered, and their durability largely comes down to how those layers interact. Most current models rely on a plastic support that gradually loses its shape, making the fold line stand out more with use. Samsung’s metal plate is meant to counter that, leveraging elasticity to spring the panel back after each bend. On paper, the logic is hard to argue with.

Both devices are expected in the second half of 2026, though Samsung will likely land first. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 could arrive as early as July, while the foldable iPhone is rumored to debut closer to September. Meaningful comparisons will have to wait for real hardware, but it’s already clear the race for a flawless foldable screen is being won—or lost—inside the stack, not on the surface.