[Edaily Reporter SOYEON KIM ] Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with the brand’s first foldable iPhone, on the 9th (local time). With SamsungElectronics’ Galaxy Z Fold 8 series gaining popularity, Apple’s entry into the foldable phone market is expected to expand the overall market size. In particular, South Korean companies with leading technological capabilities in the foldable display and component sectors are expected to benefit.

According to market research firm Omdia on the 8th, Samsung Display holds an overwhelming 62.6% market share—based on revenue—in the foldable organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel market. Chinese display manufacturer BOE followed with 29%, followed by Visionox, China Star, and Tianma.

This market share gap is expected to widen further in the third quarter. Samsung Display’s global market share for foldable OLED panels is projected to rise to 85.1% in the third quarter. In contrast, BOE’s share is expected to plummet to 12.3%, while INNOX Corporation and China Star are also forecast to remain at around 1% each.

Until now, BOE had entered the OLED panel supply chain for Apple’s iPhones, primarily for models intended for the Chinese domestic market. However, it is reported that Samsung Display will be the exclusive supplier of panels for Apple’s first foldable iPhone. According to industry sources, Samsung Display has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Apple for foldable OLED panels. By exclusively supplying panels for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, Samsung Display’s dominance in the premium foldable OLED market is expected to grow even further.

The launch of Apple’s foldable iPhone is also expected to accelerate growth in the related market. With both SamsungElectronics and Apple set to release foldable phones, the foldable phone market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 12.2%. Although Chinese device manufacturers such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo are also launching foldable phones, South Korean companies are considered to have a distinct competitive edge in the market for displays and core components used in premium foldable phones.

Apple is reportedly putting particular effort into reducing creases in the display of its first foldable iPhone. It appears the company will enhance the product’s design quality by applying new technologies, such as using new materials in the hinge and adopting dual ultra-thin glass (UTG). It is believed that Chinese display manufacturers have been limited in their entry into this market due to the need to meet Apple’s stringent quality standards, yield requirements, and durability tests.

Domestic parts suppliers are also expected to benefit. LG Innotek is reportedly supplying ultra-slim “Folded Zoom” camera modules, which are positioned to avoid the folding hinge structure. The foldable iPhone is expected to feature two rear cameras, including a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens. The company is also reported to be supplying Radio Frequency System-in-Package (RF-SiP) substrates for communication chips.

Domestic companies are also expected to benefit in the memory sector. As multitasking and on-device artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in foldable phones are enhanced, the adoption of high-capacity mobile DRAM, such as low-power DRAM (LPDDR5X and LPDDR6), is highly likely to increase. Consequently, this is expected to have a positive impact on the mobile DRAM businesses of SamsungElectronics and SK hynix.

Yang Seung-soo, an analyst at Meritz Securities, predicted, “Since the Samsung Fold 8 has already demonstrated the usability of wide screens and confirmed consumer demand, the Apple Fold is also highly likely to accelerate the mainstream adoption of the foldable market, building on its design excellence and the iPhone operating system (iOS) ecosystem.”