One of the toughest challenges for any foldable smartphone manufacturer is eliminating the crease, and based on previous reports, Apple appears adamant about getting rid of it or, at the very least, minimizing its visibility. According to an analyst, the company’s foldable iPhone will feature Samsung’s crease-free display to make this possible. However, there are chances that the crease could show up with extended use, so another supplier is expected to provide metal that will join the rest of the device’s components through a laser drilling process. Unfortunately, this additional step could contribute to a more expensive foldable iPhone.
Korean supplier Fine M-Tec to provide metal plates for the foldable iPhone’s crease-free display, but the process to attach these parts is reportedly up to 175 percent more expensive
On his latest Medium blog, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentions that Apple’s foldable iPhone will enter mass production in the second half of 2026 and adopt Samsung’s OLED panels instead of opting for its own solution. Additionally, Fine M-Tec, a Korean supplier that specializes in doors and hinges, will provide metal plates that will disperse the stress generated by the foldable display’s bending, minimizing the risk of the material exceeding the elastic limit and reducing the chances for any visible creases to show up.
Unfortunately, as you would have guessed, Kuo states that incorporating these metal plates into the foldable iPhone will be expensive, with Fine M-Tec expected to begin supplying these parts from the first quarter of 2026, with a unit price between $30-$35. Now comes the laser drilling process, which is necessary for attaching those metal plates, making it another $30-$35 expense compared to the $20 it costs for etching. Considering that the foldable iPhone will have an initial shipment quantity in the millions, an additional assembly process could deliver a significantly larger bill for Apple.
Kuo never mentioned this process previously, but he did state that customers could end up paying between $2,000-$2,500 for the foldable iPhone, and this laser drilling process could be a contributing reason why. Then again, DSCC (Display Supply Chain Consultants) founder and CEO Ross Young has previously commented that to eliminate the crease’s visibility, the foldable flagship needs to have a thicker front glass that is chemically treated, which will be an expensive process, so we are not sure which approach Apple will take, but we should prepare ourselves for next year because the device could potentially witness a launch.
News Source: Ming-Chi Kuo
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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