A newly surfaced — and quickly deleted — report has revived speculation about Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone, suggesting the company may be preparing for a far larger launch than analysts previously anticipated. ET News, cited by MacRumors before the story was taken down, claimed Apple has ordered roughly 22 million OLED panels from Samsung Display. The split is said to include 11 million inward-folding screens and 11 million outer displays, implying an initial production target of around 10 million finished devices.
If accurate, that volume would represent a substantial commitment for a first-generation product, exceeding earlier industry expectations by roughly 30 percent. For context, global foldable smartphone shipments currently total just over 20 million units annually, meaning Apple may be aiming to match roughly half of the entire market’s volume in its first year. That doesn’t confirm demand, but it does signal that Apple may be positioning the device as a mainstream category addition rather than a niche experiment.
The rumored hardware details remain consistent with earlier leaks: a book-style fold similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line, a 5.35-inch external display that unfolds into a 7.58-inch internal panel, and an upgraded hinge intended to reduce visible creasing. Reports also point to Apple considering Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE), a method that removes the polarizing layer from the display stack to improve brightness and potentially reduce thickness — two areas where foldables often lag behind traditional smartphones. An under-display front-facing camera has also been floated, though it remains unclear whether the technology is mature enough for Apple’s standards.
Despite the mounting claims, a foldable iPhone has not been confirmed, and timelines remain speculative. Most rumors continue to target 2026, positioning the device alongside the expected iPhone 18 lineup. Given Apple’s tendency to delay or cancel projects that do not meet internal thresholds, the leaked display order — if genuine — should be interpreted as a sign of active development, not a guaranteed release plan.
Still, planning for a run of 10 million units would indicate unusual confidence for a first foldable. Whether that confidence reflects genuine market opportunity or simply a desire to influence the direction of the broader category will only become clear once Apple formally reveals its intentions.
