Apple has secured a three-year exclusive deal with Samsung Display for the display technology in its new iPhone Duo folding smartphone. According to reports from MacRumors citing Chinese leaker Instant Digital, this arrangement represents a significant shift from Apple's typical supplier strategy, where the company usually maintains multiple suppliers to keep costs down. The partnership comes as Apple was unable to find a second supplier for the folding screen technology, with LG Display still unable to manufacture folding phone screens and BOE failing to meet Apple's quality and reliability standards. The Elec reports that Samsung Display proposed the exclusivity clause itself, and Apple accepted the terms, effectively making Samsung the only viable supplier for mass-market foldable devices.
The folding screen technology costs approximately three times more than a standard iPhone screen, which typically costs Apple around $70. As reported by MacRumors, this means the screen alone accounts for more than 10% of the phone's retail price. The $250 per screen payment represents a substantial portion of the device's total cost, highlighting the premium nature of the folding technology and Samsung's market position in this specialized segment. Notably, Apple is reportedly paying close to $250 per foldable display unit for the iPhone Duo, which is notably higher than what Samsung itself pays for the foldable OLED panels used in its own Galaxy Z series phones, according to earlier reporting from OLED-Info. The iPhone Duo uses 10 layers in this display, including the nano-texture layer, which contributes significantly to the premium pricing structure.
The iPhone Duo represents a significant technological advancement, marking the first device to use Samsung's newer M16 OLED material set, which brings improvements in brightness, color performance, panel lifespan and power efficiency compared to earlier OLED generations. This marks a shift from earlier reports indicating Apple would use the older, more established M14 material set found in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The move to M16 by launch suggests Apple upgraded its display target sometime between April and the device's official unveiling on September 10, prioritizing cutting-edge specs over production reliability for its first foldable device. The nano-texture display used in the iPhone Duo is the same technology offered on Apple's MacBook Pros, contributing to the device's impressive crease reduction and overall display quality.
According to Citi's analysis reported by BeInCrypto, Apple is expected to sell 7.3 million iPhone Duo units in the first year. At the $250 per screen rate, this would generate approximately $1.8 billion in revenue for Samsung Display over the three-year contract period. The substantial payment reflects the current market reality where Samsung remains the only viable supplier for folding phone screen technology, with Samsung Display having to internally justify supplying its most advanced foldable technology to a direct rival of Samsung Electronics' smartphone business. With the iPhone Duo priced at $1,999 in the US and ₹2,99,900 in India, Samsung's display division stands to earn a significant, guaranteed revenue stream for at least the next three years, regardless of how the device performs commercially for Apple. Following the iPhone Duo's announcement, early reviews have been glowing, with many impressed by the device's size and particularly the most invisible crease on a foldable so far.
