Samsung Display, the sole OLED display supplier for the foldable iPhone, has reportedly begun mass production of panels after receiving Apple approval.

Apple’s display supply chain is heavily leaning on South Korea, with Samsung Display and LG Display occupying the majority of the stake. Chinese vendor BOE has reportedly been ousted from the iPhone 18 Pro display supply.

Now, Apple has given the green light to Samsung Display to kickstart OLED production for its first foldable iPhone. The Korean tech giant is said to have secured more than 80 percent as the final yield, surpassing the standard.

The report (via SemiconductorsX) suggests that Samsung Display began initial mass production by activating a portion of its post-processing lines in Vietnam. The company plans to supply 3 million foldable OLEDs as the initial batch this year.

One thing that caught attention is that Samsung Display and Apple agreed to keep their strategic foldable OLED supply deal locked for three years. No other OLED vendor would be able to join the specific supply chain for three years.

Apple’s foldable iPhone would not just sell well, but also push the segment to new heights. Samsung will be facing tough competition and declining sales too, but it’s good for the market as consumers will benefit after all.

The iPhone foldable could come with a display featuring M16 OLED material set, polarizer-free Color filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology, and a 3D-printed hinge module, with launch expected in September this year.

An industry insider stated, “I understand that Apple is experiencing difficulties in stabilizing the production of the hinge module for its first foldable phone. There are no issues on Samsung Display’s end, and the release schedule depends entirely on Apple’s readiness regarding set components, especially the hinge.”

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