JAKARTA - Apple's ambition to enter the folding phone market seems to have cost dearly. The latest report says the company was forced to sign an exclusive contract with Samsung Display to supply a foldable OLED panel for the iPhone Fold.
This deal is reportedly valid for three years, which means Apple has no alternative suppliers until at least 2029 or 2030. This situation is quite "not Apple-like", considering that companies usually rely on many vendors to keep prices down and maintain supply chain flexibility.
The problem is simple: there is no other player ready. The BOE folding panel is said to have not met Apple's quality standards, even though it has been used in Huawei devices. Meanwhile, LG Display is rumored to be not ready to produce a folding screen for smartphones on a large scale.
As a result, Samsung is the only realistic option. Ironically, this means Apple must rely on its main rival in the smartphone market - a classic dynamic in the technology industry: competitors on the screen, partners behind the scenes.
In terms of production, Apple seems to be playing it safe. The company is said to only target shipments of around 3 million units of the iPhone Fold by the end of 2026 - far below the initial expectations that had touched 10 million units. This strategy reflects a cautious approach to a still niche market.
Price is also a crucial factor. The iPhone Fold is predicted to be priced at around US$2,325, almost double that of the current flagship such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If true, this will be one of Apple's most expensive products since the launch of Apple Vision Pro.
Behind all this, there is a big signal: the folding screen technology is still not fully mature industrially. Apple's famous perfectionist chose to wait - and when it finally came in, they had to "play it safe" with the best vendor available.
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