Samsung Display has reportedly begun mass production of OLED panels for Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone. The South Korean firm recently received final approval from Apple, although it had already started operating part of its back-end production line at its facility in Vietnam.

Samsung Display is reportedly preparing an initial shipment of 3 million OLED panels scheduled for delivery to Apple this year. The company is said to be the exclusive supplier of both the cover display and the foldable inner display for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which could be called the iPhone Ultra. According to reports, Samsung Display will remain Apple’s sole supplier for these panels for the first three years.

These displays reportedly use Samsung Display’s most advanced OLED material set, called M16, which has not yet been used in any commercial device.

The M16 material set offers higher brightness, more accurate colors, longer lifespan, and improved power efficiency compared to M15 and earlier-generation materials. As a result, the iPhone Ultra’s displays could deliver exceptional image quality and efficiency.

Module Production Approval is a qualification process in which an OLED supplier must demonstrate that its final assembly meets Apple’s quality, performance, and yield requirements. Yield refers to the percentage of units that pass quality testing. Apple’s minimum yield requirement is reportedly around 70%, but Samsung Display is said to have achieved yields exceeding 80%.

Apple reportedly has strict requirements for its foldable OLED panels. They must withstand repeated folding, offer high durability in the crease area, and maintain minimal crease visibility while meeting overall thickness and assembly precision targets.

Back-end operations for the foldable OLED panels are handled at Samsung Display’s facility in Vietnam, while back-end operations for the cover display panels are handled at the company’s facility in China. Front-end processes include manufacturing TFT backplanes, OLED emissive layers, and encapsulation layers. Back-end processes involve adding driver ICs, flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs), and protective layers before final inspection and shipment.

Analysts expect Apple to launch the iPhone Ultra in September 2026, although the launch could be delayed if suppliers are unable to produce enough foldable hinges in time. The device is reportedly expected to use a 3D-printed hinge designed to minimize display crease visibility.

Samsung Display is also reportedly supplying similar OLED panels for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, likely using the older M15 OLED material set. Both foldable phones from Samsung DX (Device eXperience) are expected to be announced on July 22, 2026, and could reach store shelves in August. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely be one of the iPhone Ultra’s main competitors.