Translation:
Apple's 'Foldable iPhone' supply chain construction second reading
Date of publication : 2025-02-23 11:30 Update : 2025-02-23 16:02 Paper : 2025-02-24 1 page
Decide on a parts supplier by April
Significant improvement of display wrinkles
Samsung D is likely to be full of OLED
Attention to the selection of cover glass and hinge
Apple foldable iPhone expected image. <Photo Apple Insider>
Apple has started to produce a foldable iPhone. It is understood that the selection of a parts partner for the foldable iPhone is imminent. It is said that Apple has significantly improved the display wrinkles, which is considered the biggest disadvantage of foldable smartphones, attracting attention.
According to the coverage on the 20th, Apple plans to finally decide on the foldable iPhone supply chain by April. Based on the results that have been carried out with the partners so far, we plan to select the material and parts supplier to be installed in the actual product.
This means that the production point of the foldable iPhone is approaching. From the second half of the year, full-scale mass production of materials and parts, that is, the supply chain, is expected to be operational. An industry official who is clear about this matter said, "Apple has been preparing a folderable phone and is about to narrow down the candidate group and is about to be selected."
Apple usually selects the final technical specifications and suppliers one year before the launch of a new product. It is to prepare in advance for smooth product mass production and supply. In light of this, Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to be released in the second half of 2026.
Samsung Display is expected to supply all the display (OLED), which is the core of the foldable iPhone. According to the coverage, Samsung Display has been developing the display for Apple's foldable phone since last year. It is interpreted that the fact that it was the first to make a foldable OLED and successfully mass-produced it was effective. The foldable iPhone is understood as an 'folding' structure that folds the screen inward. It is expected that the appearance of opening a book will be realized. <See page 2 of this paper dated July 18, 2024>
It is known that the display wrinkles, which were considered the biggest challenge in the industry and the limitation of foldable technology, have been greatly improved. Apple put forward difficult technical requirements to overcome the weakness of foldable phones with wrinkles on the folded screen, and it is evaluated that it is close to the desired level.
Another industry official said, "In order to differentiate itself from the existing foldable phones, Apple decided to eliminate wrinkles unconditionally regardless of price," and "I understand that wrinkles disappeared with new properties."
The folds are closely related not only to the display material and parts, but also to the hinge that goes into the smartphone body. It is said that cooperation between related companies was promoted by being connected organically.
In particular, the cover glass and hinge attached to the top of the display are considered to be the key parts that differentiate the performance of foldable phones, and Apple has overcome this.
According to the coverage, Corning of the United States is the leading director of Cover Glass Glass. Apple has been using Corning Glass for iPhones and has invested directly in Corning.
In order to apply glass to foldable phones, glass must be processed thinly, and domestic and Chinese companies are mentioned to make this ultra-thin glass (UTG). Samsung Display is promoting a plan to supply the final display in charge of glass processing through domestic partners, but it is said that Apple is also building its own supply chain to reduce dependence.
The main supplier of hinges has been narrowed down to American amphenol. Amphenol is an electronic component company that has been included in Apple's supply chain in the past. It has been hinged to the MacBook Pro, and it is known that Chinese companies such as Bibo mainly adopt it for smartphones.
This supply chain selection attracts attention because Apple, which is leading the global trend, foreshadows its participation in the foldable smartphone market. It is expected that Apple will expand the foldable smartphone market with slow growth in earnest, and shake the competition in the foldable market centered on Korea and China, such as Samsung, Huawei, and Opo.
According to the industry, Apple is accelerating the commercialization of foldable smartphones. It is interpreted that it is to make a breakthrough in the saturated smartphone market.
Reporter Kim Yog-ho lloydmind@etnews.com, Reporter Lee Ho-gil eagles@etnews.com
Let me dream that this iPhone will have a Blue phosphorescence emitter!!! |
