A quiet demo at CES 2026 has offered an early look at folding screen technology that could shape Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone. Samsung Display briefly showcased a new crease free foldable OLED panel alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 before removing the test booth. A publication that viewed the display reported that the new panel “has no crease at all” when compared with current foldable screens.
Samsung’s existing Galaxy Z Fold 7 already does a strong job of reducing crease visibility but the fold can still be seen from certain viewing angles. Samsung Display says the newer panel which is expected to debut in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 delivers “seamless text across the fold” from every direction. This is significant for Apple as Samsung remains its primary supplier of OLED displays for iPhones and other devices.
In July 2025 Apple supply chain analyst Ming Chi Kuo said Samsung’s next generation Galaxy Z Fold 8 will use the same laser drilled metal display plate planned for the foldable iPhone. The component will be supplied by South Korean firm Fine M Tec. The plate helps disperse stress created during folding which enables a crease free appearance. While the core technology may be shared Apple is expected to use its own panel structure lamination method and material process meaning the final display could still differ from Samsung’s version.
Display size and proportions will also set the devices apart. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 6.5 inches when closed and 8 inches when open with a 21:9 aspect ratio folded and 20:18 when open. Rumours suggest the iPhone Fold will be smaller at 5.3 to 5.5 inches when closed and 7.5 to 7.8 inches when open. This would give Apple a wider 4:3 layout when unfolded. Samsung has not explained why the demo was removed early but Apple’s push for stricter crease free standards appears to be driving progress across the foldable category. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to launch this summer while Apple’s foldable iPhone is tipped for mass production this year with a launch around mid-September.’
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