Apple is preparing to enter the foldable phone market with the upcoming iPhone Fold, which is expected to achieve a strong presence upon its launch.
According to a new report, this phone may help the company reach a market share of 19.3% of the foldable phone market during 2026, which puts it in third place globally behind Huawei and Samsung.
Despite Apple’s late entry into this sector, the report’s analysts believe that the accumulated demand from iPhone users who want to try a foldable phone, in addition to the strength of the brand and the integration of the Apple system, may quickly push the company to become one of the most prominent players in this market.
Apple is focusing in particular on reducing the wrinkles of the folding screen, as the report indicates that the solution depends heavily on the material techniques used in the hinge and screen.
Previous leaks spoke of Apple’s reliance on 3D printing and liquid metal in the joint, along with two layers of ultra-thin glass UTG.
The report also reveals an important additional component, which is an optically transparent adhesive known as OCA, a material that is already used in some foldable phones, but Apple is working on improving it to distribute pressure evenly and reduce its concentration in one point, while adjusting the screen’s rigidity during folding.
This material is usually placed between the different layers of the screen, as it helps absorb stress in a balanced manner, maintain the alignment and stability of the layers, in addition to remaining completely transparent to reduce light distortion and limit the appearance of screen wrinkles.
