- Apple iPhone Fold is inching closer to its launch as reported by various outlets.
- Turns out the foldable phone from Apple could be cheaper than Galaxy Z Fold7's $1,800 price tag thanks to a lower BOM.
- iPhone Fold is slated to undergo mass production later next year followed by launch in 2H 2026.
Apple is reportedly working on iPhone Fold, and it might be cheaper than Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. We got the latest update on the upcoming foldable that could overturn Samsung’s dominance in a jiffy. Let’s dive in.
Samsung is building up displays for the iPhone Fold
A few weeks ago, we reported the purported iPhone Fold entering the P1 prototyping stage, thereby inching closer to its launch next year. Cut to now, we got an update from Korea JoongAng Daily stating that South Korea-based Samsung Display is gearing up to kick-start mass production of foldable OLED panels for the Cupertino giant.
The timeline suggests Samsung will begin production of the foldable panels in the fourth quarter of this year, in line with the phone’s launch schedule in the second half of 2026. Tipster Ming-Chi Kuo hinted at a similar launch window for the rumored iPhone Fold. Kuo highlights how Samsung is working on a crease-free display for the iPhone alongside Fine M-Tec, Apple’s supplier for display metal plates, that will be used in the internal hinges on the Fold to distribute bending stress across the panel to reduce creases.
Unlike other components, Samsung Displays appears to be dominating as a supplier for Apple’s foldable panels, as the former meets Apple’s golden quality and yield standards.
Apple iPhone Fold might be cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
It’s difficult to digest that Apple’s upcoming iPhone Fold will be cheaper than Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, given the fact that it’s an Apple device we are talking about. However, it seems the Cupertino-based giant could vouch for a lower price tag thanks to the rumored lower bill of materials (BOM) costs.
According to UBS, an investment firm, the Apple iPhone Fold will typically carry a BOM of $759. This is 4% lower than Samsung Galaxy Z Fold SE, a China-exclusive edition, that was launched in the country last year with a BOM of $790.
Samsung is expected to pack in an S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold8 next year, justifying a slightly higher price tag. It means Apple has the opportunity to place its touted iPhone Fold in a sweet price tag around $1,800 to $2,000, making it more affordable than the Z Fold8 itself. For context, the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is priced at a starting $1,800, and for sure, Fold8 will be slightly more expensive.
According to the report, Apple could be using titanium for its frame, liquid metal for the hinge, and will save costs on cameras, RAM, and chipset, bringing the overall BOM cost down, and thus, it will eventually be passed on to the customers once the device is up for grabs (soon).
