Foldable OLEDs: introduction and market status

In May 2025, Huawei launched it first foldable OLED laptop, the MateBook Fold, sporting a 18-inch 1,600 nits 3300 x 2200 foldable LTPO tandem-stack AMOLED display. When folded, the display is 13-inch in size. The laptop started shipping in June 2025, with a price tag that started at 23,999 RMB ($3,300 at the time).,

The company today announced an update to the foldable laptop - the MateBook Fold Ultimate Design. The new device, has a price range of 24,999 - 29,999 RMB (or $3,700 - $4,450 USD).

Last month Samsung Electronics announced its latest foldable OLED smartphone lineup, the Galaxy Z8, with three models, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8.

It is now reported in Korea that in the first week of preorders, the new series set a record with over 1.44 million preorders. This surpasses the Galaxy Note 10 in 2019 with 1.38 million orders, the Galaxy S26 this year, with 1.35 million preorders in a week, and the 2025 Galaxy Z7 lineup with 1.04 million. 

Samsung Electronics announced its financial results for Q2 2026, with $120 billion USD in revenues - a company's record - up 28% from the previous quarter, and an operating profit of $62.5 billion, also a record for Samsung. These excellent results were mainly driven by high demand for its foundry, device and memory businesses.

Samsung Display posted revenues of $5.2 billion, and an operating profit of $488 million, an improvement over the last quarter, based on solid demand for high-end mobile AMOLED panels. It's large-area QD-OLED business also reported expanded sales, as shipments to the gaming monitor market grew. 

Back in December 2025 Samsung launched its first tri-folding AMOLED phone, the Galaxy Z TriFold. A few months ago we reported that Samsung has has decided to discontinue it and will stop producing more devices. It was claimed that the company never intended for this product to be mass produced, it was always meant to be a limited edition device. 

Now, we hear that Samsung Electronics decided to launch a new tri-folding OLED phones in 2027. As a general strategy, Samsung's mobile phone unit decided to increase the number of flagship smartphones in 2027 - to have 4 foldable options, and also four models in its Galaxy S27 series (S26, S26+, S26 Ultra - and a new S26 Pro device). Samsung believes that offering many devices will help expand its sales. 

Samsung held its Galaxy Unpacked event in London yesterday, where it announced five new OLED devices: three foldable smartphones and two smartwatches. Between them, the new lineup introduces nine distinct OLED panels, some utilizing exciting new technologies. The lineup also includes the world's brightest smartwatch, surpassing even Garmin's microLED smartwatch.

We'll start with the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, a "wide" foldable that sits between the Flip and the Fold in size - and confusingly, it is not the successor to last year's Galaxy Z Fold7. It has a 7.6" 1848x2448 (3,000 nits peak) 4:3 foldable LTPO Flex Titanium OLED, and the external display is a 5.5" 1248x1972 10:16 LTPO OLED. 

Samsung Electronics unveiled a new technology that enhances the durability and reduces the crease in foldable OLED panels. The Flex Titanium technology integrates two titanium-based components, a titanium-alloy film and a titanium plate. 

According to Samsung, these two components working together to balance slimness, flexibility and strength within the foldable display structure.

Last month we reported that Samsung Display decided to expand its OLED production hub in Asan, looking to expand its flexible (mostly foldable) OLED capacity. 

According to the latest news from Korea, Samsung has indeed confirmed the expansion, and more details on SDC's plans has emerged. This expansion plan is part of a large Korean government initiative to build a next-generation production base in Asan, for both displays and semiconductors.

According to reports from Korea, Samsung Display has started to mass produce foldable OLED panels to Apple's first foldable iPhone. SDC is producing the foldable panels in its Asan, Korea hub, while the modules are produced in its Vietnam's module factory.

According to the reports, Apple's first order is for a total of 3 million displays that will ship in 2026. Samsung is the exclusive supplier of foldable panels to Apple, and Apple actually signed a 3-year exclusivity deal with SDC.

An interesting industry report suggests that Samsung is planning to ship 5-6 million foldable smartphones in 2026, from its new 8-Gen series (which will include the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Flip8, and the new Galaxy Wide Fold). 

These numbers are slightly lower than what the company shipped in 2025, about 6 million units for their Galaxy Z7 series. It appears as if Samsung is anticipating a somewhat lower demand this year for foldable smartphones - a few months ago it believed it will ship 6.5 million units in 2026.

Reports from Korea suggest that Samsung Display has decided to expand its OLED production hub in Asan, looking to expand its flexible (mostly foldable) OLED capacity.

It seems as if Samsung is seeing higher demand for foldable OLEDs in the future, starting with Apple's first foldable OLED smartphone launch later this year.