Apple’s first foldable iPhone just got a lot more real. According to a new report from Nikkei Asia, cited by 9to5Mac, Apple has placed orders for around 10 million foldable OLED displays up from earlier estimates of 7 to 8 million units. That 25 to 40 percent jump in production targets tells you something important: Apple is more confident in demand for this device than the cautious early numbers suggested.
Samsung Display is handling the panels exclusively, which makes sense given Samsung’s years of manufacturing experience building foldable OLED screens for the Galaxy Z Fold lineup. Apple reportedly isn’t splitting the order across multiple suppliers for this first generation, putting the entire production run through Samsung’s dedicated capacity.
The rumored specs paint a clear picture of where Apple is positioning this device. A 7.8-inch inner foldable display paired with a 5.5-inch cover screen, book-style folding design, titanium frame, and a body that measures around 4.5 to 4.8mm when unfolded thinner than almost anything currently on the market. The A20 Pro chip powers it, Apple Intelligence is baked in, and Touch ID on the side replaces Face ID, likely due to space constraints in a foldable form factor. Dual rear cameras round out the hardware.
Then there’s the price. Analyst estimates are pointing to around $2,500 for the base model, with higher-storage configurations potentially approaching $3,000. That makes it Apple’s most expensive iPhone by a significant margin, and it’s deliberately niche. For context, Apple is reportedly planning around 70 million iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units against 10 million foldables, roughly one foldable for every eight standard premium iPhones.
The market impact could still be outsized. IDC forecasts the foldable iPhone could capture more than 22 percent of global foldable smartphone shipments and about 34 percent of the segment’s total value in year one, purely because of its premium pricing pulling up the average.
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