Apple may have entered the foldable smartphone market as a direct competitor to Samsung, but the company is reportedly relying on Samsung for one of the most important components of its new iPhone Duo.
Reports indicate that Apple could be paying Samsung Display approximately $250 for each foldable display supplied for the iPhone Duo.
The figure was reported by MacRumors, citing Chinese leaker Instant Digital, who claims that Samsung Display has signed a three-year exclusive supply agreement with Apple to provide foldable display panels for the iPhone Duo and future models. The reported $250 price would make the foldable display one of the most expensive individual components in the phone.
A very expensive screen
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9 as its first foldable iPhone. The device has a 7.6-inch internal display when opened and a 5.4-inch external display when folded. Apple says the inner screen provides 50 percent more display area than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, meaning a reported $250 display would represent about 12.5 percent of the phone’s starting retail price.
However, the $250 figure should not be confused with the total manufacturing cost of the phone’s display system. It is a reported supplier price for the foldable panel, and Apple has not publicly confirmed the amount.
Samsung supplies a key component to its biggest competitor
The arrangement is particularly interesting because Samsung has been one of Apple’s biggest competitors in the smartphone industry.
Samsung pioneered the modern mass-market foldable smartphone category and has released several generations of Galaxy foldable devices. Apple is now entering the market using technology supplied by Samsung Display. Reuters reported that the iPhone Duo is part of Apple’s strategy to challenge Samsung and other established foldable-phone manufacturers.
This means that while Apple and Samsung compete for customers in the premium smartphone market, Samsung can also benefit financially from Apple’s entry into foldable phones.
It is a good example of how the technology industry works. Companies can compete aggressively at the consumer level while simultaneously depending on each other through global supply chains.
Samsung could make billions from Apple’s foldable iPhone
The reported $250 per display could become a significant source of revenue for Samsung if Apple sells millions of iPhone Duo units.
For example, if Apple sells 5 million units and Samsung receives approximately $250 for each display, the resulting display revenue would be around $1.25 billion.
At 10 million units, the figure would rise to approximately $2.5 billion.
These calculations are only based on the reported $250 figure and do not represent Samsung’s actual profit because manufacturing costs, research and development, logistics and other expenses would have to be deducted.
Why the display is so important
Foldable displays are considerably more complicated to manufacture than conventional smartphone screens because they must repeatedly bend without suffering serious damage.
Apple has also equipped the Duo with a special nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare. The company describes the device as its thinnest iPhone and says the internal display is designed for multitasking, gaming and viewing content on a much larger screen.
The technology is therefore central to Apple’s attempt to make its first foldable iPhone feel different from earlier foldable phones.
The $1,999 question
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 and can reach $3,199 for higher storage configurations, making it one of Apple’s most expensive smartphones.
Reuters reports that analysts expect Apple to sell millions of units despite the high price, although foldable phones remain a relatively small part of the overall smartphone market.
Apple’s challenge will be convincing consumers that the larger foldable display and new design justify the significant premium over conventional flagship iPhones.
For Samsung, however, Apple’s entry into foldables could create an interesting opportunity. Samsung is not only competing against the iPhone Duo with its Galaxy Z Fold series; its display business may also be earning money from every Duo that Apple sells.
In other words, Apple may be competing with Samsung in the foldable-phone market while simultaneously helping Samsung’s display business grow.
The reported $250 price has not been officially confirmed by Apple or Samsung, so it should be treated as an industry estimate rather than a confirmed contractual figure.
