en.Wedoany.com Reported - Details regarding the supply chain for Apple's first foldable iPhone have recently surfaced intensively. Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, citing informed sources, stated that despite facing challenges in engineering testing, the model is still scheduled for release alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in September 2026, typically going on sale one week after the announcement. Nikkei previously reported that Apple encountered technical bottlenecks during the engineering testing phase, increasing the risk of delay. Against this backdrop, the supply chain layout for core components like panels, memory, and assembly is gradually becoming clear.
In the panel sector, Samsung Display has signed an exclusive three-year supply agreement with Apple for foldable OLED panels, during which Apple will not adopt foldable panels from other manufacturers. Samsung Display plans to commence mass production in the second quarter of 2026, with an initial supply of approximately 3 million units this year, significantly lower than the market's earlier expectation of around 10 million units. These panels employ an encapsulation on color (EoC) technology, forming a color filter layer above the encapsulation layer, eliminating the need for a polarizer and thus avoiding issues of polarizer cracking at bending points. The OLED materials will continue to use the M14 material set from the iPhone 17 Pro Max, rather than a new material stack.
Regarding memory, Apple has placed a large-scale order with Samsung for 12GB LPDDR5X memory chips, with procurement prices roughly doubling year-over-year. This order is seen as a key signal that the product is entering the mass production preparation phase. Samsung is the largest supplier for this procurement, while Apple is also sourcing from SK Hynix and Micron. In the optics and hinge sectors, Largan Precision is expected to supply camera lenses, and hinge components are provided by Taiwan's Shen Zong Precision Industry.
In the manufacturing and assembly segment, Foxconn, as the exclusive assembler, has established dedicated production lines at its Shenzhen and Zhengzhou campuses, entering the design verification test production (DVTP) phase. Engineering verification testing (EVT) has been initiated ahead of schedule, with mass production planned to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026. TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that Apple has planned an order volume of 15 to 20 million units for this model. IDC data shows that global foldable screen shipments in 2025 were approximately 19.83 million units, and the industry chain expects this figure to reach 28 million units in 2026, with Apple's foldable device shipments projected to be 5 to 7 million units.
Several Chinese A-share listed companies are deeply involved in the supply chain for this model. Luxshare Precision disclosed in its 2025 annual report that it has been supplying foldable device hardware to a major North American customer, including stainless steel, titanium alloy, and carbon fiber support components, as well as hinge modules, and has achieved a key breakthrough in high-performance vapor chamber cooling projects. Lens Technology stated that it is supplying UTG glass, PET films, glass support components, and 3D glass covers for the customer's foldable device project. Additionally, companies such as Foxconn Industrial Internet, BYD, Avary Holding, and Goertek, which are part of Apple's broader supply chain, are also expected to benefit from the release of the foldable iPhone.
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