Apple’s foldable OLED smartphone and foldable mobile PC scenarios

Today, most major smartphone brands and OEMs have launched foldable smartphones. However, there is still no news of when Apple will launch its own foldable smart handheld devices. The foldable OLED market is expected to grow substantially from 23.1 million units in 2023 to 32.9 million units in 2024, with 100% of the shipment expected to be used for smartphone applications. From 2024, some display manufacturers have been aiming to ship foldable mobile PC displays in the 13- to 17-inch range. 

As specifications, performance, manufacturing scale, reliability, and costs continue to improve, more smartphone users are paying attention to foldable handhelds with the foldable display market expected to grow to over 120 million units per year by 2030. However, this will still be a small portion of the total smartphone display market, which is over 1.5 billion units. The use of OLED displays in smartphones is a result of innovative applications of smartphone screens, increased prices and revenue, and new product and process technologies being applied. 

The big question remains, will Apple launch foldable smartphones? And if so, what will the OLED sizes be when the devices are folded and unfolded? Additionally, will the devices be inward-folding smartphones with external subdisplays similar to the current mainstream foldable smartphones? Or will they be clamshell-type or book-type foldable smartphones? How will it affect the iPad series if Apple indeed releases foldable handheld devices that can switch between smartphone and tablet PC modes?

Figure 1 shows that although there has been backplane improvement and display active area evolution over the years, the display of Apple’s iPhone has remained unchanged in terms of screen size and form factor since the iPhone 14. The series includes four models: the regular iPhone, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max.

Figure 1: Estimation of Apple’s iPhone display roadmap

Flexible OLED screen sizes have stabilized between 6.06 inches and 6.69 inches. As the iPhone series progressed from the iPhone 14 to the iPhone 18, the display remained relatively unchanged. However, advancements in technology have allowed for more functions to be integrated into the displays. These functions include border reduction with fanout in the OLED active area, micro lens with polarizer-free (pol-less) technology to enhance brightness, and an under-panel IR sensor and Face ID. However, some of these technologies may take more time to develop, leading to delays in implementation. 

The iPhone’s display design has evolved from a notch to a dynamic island with a hole.  It is clear that the technology and form factor of the iPhone have matured. 

With this maturity comes the need for rejuvenation, and Apple may be considering launching the following: 

• A more cost-effective iPhone SE with a 6.12-inch OLED display with an LTPS backplane. This would be aimed at economical buyers.
• A new foldable iPhone that will have a new book-type, inward-folding form factor with two displays. The cover subdisplay will be between 6.1 inches and 6.3 inches, and the main foldable OLED will be between 7.7 inches and 7.9 inches. The phone will run on the new adaptable iOS with high usability and agility to match the foldable display. The new iPhone foldable display will extend the screen range to a maximum of 7.9 inches or more than 8.0 inches. Omdia estimates that Apple will define the device as a transformable device between a smartphone and a tablet PC (the iPad mini, Air, and Pro series).

Omdia believes the possibility of a clamshell-type foldable iPhone is slim because it would compete with the current 6.1-inch to 6.9-inch iPhone products. Instead, we forecast an extendable 7.9-inch book-type foldable display, which makes more sense as it allows for the expansion of both the screen and the users’ application simultaneously, rather than on the same device. 

Figure 2 shows the pros and cons of the clamshell-type and book-type foldable iPhones.

Figure 2: Pros and cons of the clamshell-type and book-type foldable iPhones

The next question focuses on foldable mobile PCs. Figure 3 shows that Apple’s mobile PC products are gradually shifting from LCD to OLED. These products are equipped with the most advanced OLED technology, with features such as a hybrid backplane (either LTPO or oxide), RGB tandem stack structure, and dynamic frame rate.

Figure 3: Estimation of Apple’s iPad and MacBook mobile PC display roadmap

The reason for the shift from LCD to OLED display is because OLED offers a slim and lightweight design, a self-emissive technology with pixel-level dimming that meets the HDR requirement, super low response time, variable frame rate with reduced power consumption, and better color gamut. 

It is possible to shift to OLED for midrange mobile PC products, such as the iPad Air and the MacBook Air, but a version with reduced cost that includes an LTPS backplane, single layer RGB structure, and 60Hz frame rate. 

Our analysis suggests that Apple may be considering a new foldable PC with a large 20.3-inch OLED display that has an RGB tandem stack structure and LTPO TFT backplane. The goal is to meet the needs of users who require a larger screen than a MacBook but a smaller screen than an all-in-one (AIO) PC. At the same time, Apple is also aiming to meet portability needs while ensuring low power consumption.

The iPhone series lineup currently ranges from 6.1 inches to 6.9 inches, while the iPad series ranges from 8.3 inches to 12.9 inches. This means that a foldable smartphone with a 7- to 8-inch display could fit effectively in the mobile device market. 

On the other hand, the MacBook series lineup ranges from 13.6 inches to 16.2 inches, while Apple’s AIO PCs and display monitors range from 24 inches to 32 inches. This means that a foldable mobile PC with an 18- to 22-inch display could fit well in this particular market. 

If Apple were to launch both foldable smartphones and foldable mobile PCs, they would have a complete range of mobile devices with display sizes ranging from 6 inches to 24 inches (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Apple’s complete product lineup (from smartphones to mobile PCs and desktop PCs)

To read more insights and analysis covering market trends and industry forecasts prepared by Omdia’s Display practice, click here.