First foldable iPhone could copy Galaxy Z Fold 6's front camera

Samsung's foldable phones could get their first reality check in 2026, as that is when Apple is reportedly planning to launch its first foldable iPhone. And it appears that Apple could copy a front-facing camera feature that Samsung used in its foldables for four years.

A research report from JP Morgan (via MacRumours) suggests the first foldable iPhone will feature a 24MP under-display camera (UDC). If true, this would mark Apple’s first use of an under-display camera in any product launched to date. However, it has been used by other brands, including Samsung, for years.

Samsung used an under-display front camera in Galaxy Z series phones from 2021 to 2024. The Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 used a 4MP under-display camera, and their image quality was not on par with regular front-facing cameras. So, Samsung decided to drop it and go with regular front cameras (hole punch design) for the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Given that under-display cameras generally offer poorer image quality than standard ones, it’s uncertain how Apple will address this and whether it can match the current quality of regular front-facing cameras. It would be intriguing to see if Samsung reintroduces under-display cameras if Apple succeeds in delivering good image quality.