In 2026, the very first iPhone with a foldable screen should finally be released, a delay compared to the competition which can be explained by Apple's desire to offer a "perfect" product, notably without this visible groove which disfigures the screens at the fold.
Foldable screen without groove, new hinges by Samsung Display££££
Taiwanese analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently reported details on the technology of this screen, explaining that it adopts a concept developed by Samsung Display rather than Apple, allowing for faster large-scale production. The secret behind the quality of the screen is in its hinge, using laser-drilled metal plates, supplied by the Korean company Fine M-Tec. In detail, it is the tension at the fold which forms this unsightly visible groove, i.e. a permanent deformation of the screen. The metal plates help disperse and control bending stress, preventing the display from exceeding its elastic limit and thus reducing creasing.
Grooveless foldable display from Apple and Samsung in 2026 ?££££
Knowing that the latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 still has this groove, it seems that Samsung has not yet exploited Samsung Display's new technology, probably a sign of an exclusivity agreement requested by Apple. In this regard, Ming-Chi Kuo adds that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is however expected to adopt this technology. Samsung would therefore have the first opportunity to have a grooveless display, given that the next generation of foldable models from the Korean company will normally be released in the summer of 2026, and the foldable iPhone a little later in the year.
