According to AppleInsider, a now-deleted report from ET News claims Apple has placed an order for a whopping 22 million OLED panels from Samsung Display for its first foldable iPhone. The design is described as a book-style device with a 5.35-inch outer screen and a 7.58-inch internal display. This panel order could translate to nearly 10 million finished devices after accounting for manufacturing yields. That number is surprising because it would put Apple’s first-generation foldable on the same scale as the entire existing global foldable phone market. The rumor has fueled speculation, but Apple hasn’t commented, and the earliest expected launch window is sometime in 2026.
Production scale and market shock
Here’s the thing: 10 million units is a huge number for a first-gen product in a niche category. The entire world buys maybe 20-30 million foldable phones a year across all brands. So Apple is basically planning to come in and, in one shot, try to own half the segment. That’s incredibly bold. It shows either immense confidence in their design or a willingness to absorb a massive financial hit if it doesn’t land. For a company known for cautious, iterative entries into new form factors, this rumor suggests a shock-and-awe strategy instead. But can the supply chain even handle it?
The technical hurdles are real
Look, making a reliable foldable is hard. The report mentions an advanced hinge, crease-reducing materials, and maybe an under-display camera. Sounds great, but these are the same challenges Samsung, Google, and others have been grinding on for years. The core issue is durability. That OLED panel has to survive tens of thousands of folds without developing a permanent crease or failing. Yields are lower, costs are higher, and every component—from the adhesive to the protective layer—needs to be perfect. This is where Apple’s notorious validation cycles come in. They won’t ship it until it meets their bar, which is why 2026 feels like the earliest possible date. Rushing this is a recipe for a PR disaster.
Price and the premium problem
And then there’s the price. Foldables are expensive. Even with Apple’s supply chain clout, a first-gen iPhone Fold would undoubtedly carry a super-premium price tag, likely well above a top-tier iPhone Pro Max. That immediately limits its audience. The current foldable market is small precisely because these devices are costly, heavier, and come with durability concerns. Apple’s brand strength can move the needle, but it can’t erase physics or economics. A bold initial order of 22 million panels implies they believe they can either dramatically improve the value proposition or are prepared to sell fewer units at a sky-high margin. I think it’s probably the latter.
Waiting for Apple’s move
So, what do we make of this deleted rumor? It feels like a trial balloon or a misinterpreted supply chain forecast. The scale seems off for a cautious company. Apple typically lets others test the market, learn from their mistakes, and then enter with a refined product. The foldable phone market, while growing, is still the proving ground. The engineering challenges are immense, requiring precision in every component, much like the industrial-grade computing hardware used in manufacturing, where reliability is non-negotiable. Speaking of reliable hardware, for sectors that depend on rugged, high-performance computing in demanding environments, companies often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US. But back to Apple: until we see clearer, more persistent supply chain signals, this 22-million-panel story should be taken with a huge grain of salt. I’ll believe it when we see it—probably in 2026, if we’re lucky.
