Samsung is investing in helping Apple sell a lot of foldable iPhones

As the likely sole supplier of OLED panels for Apple's first foldable iPhone, Samsung may not be too worried about the competition that the device would represent for its foldable lineup.

The company is actually investing in expanding the production capacity of OLED panels that it may supply to Apple for the device.

According to reports out of South Korea, Samsung Display is making investments to expand the production capacity of OLED panels that will be used for the foldable iPhone. The report mentions that this investment will be made to upgrade Samsung Display's A4 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, to produce panels that meet Apple's expectations and requirements.

This also includes efforts to increase the production capacity by strengthening backplane-related capabilities, such as thin-film transistors, in anticipation of a surge in demand for 2027 when the number of Apple foldables are likely to increase.

While Samsung Display hasn't confirmed anything so far, and it's unlikely to do so, it's believed that the company will begin mass production of OLED panels for the first foldable iPhone by June this year. Apple is expected to unveil the device in the second half of this year.

It remains to be seen how Apple's foldable plans progress. The first model will be more closely in competition with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold lineup. Recent rumors have claimed that Apple may also be working on a clamshell foldable which would compete against Samsung's very popular Galaxy Z Flip lineup.