- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Apple Poised to Capture 20% of Foldable Smartphone Market
Stress Management Emerges as Key to Reducing Display Creases, Says TrendForce
Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:20pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Innovative materials and stress management techniques are paving the way for a new generation of truly crease-free foldable smartphone displays.NYC TodayAccording to the latest research from TrendForce, the foldable smartphone market is expected to see Apple enter as early as the second half of 2026, potentially capturing nearly 20% market share. The focus has shifted from traditional mechanical solutions to a materials-driven approach centered on managing structural stress to mitigate display creases, a key benchmark for evaluating brand integration capabilities.
Why it matters
Apple's entry into the foldable smartphone market is expected to draw significant attention to related technological advancements, as the company's strong brand positioning and consumer anticipation could compress the share of competitors like Samsung and Huawei. The industry's focus on crease reduction and material innovation highlights the growing expectations for a truly "crease-free" foldable display experience.
The details
Efforts to reduce display creases are now centered on managing structural stress, moving away from traditional mechanical solutions relying on hinges and support structures. Creases originate from the misalignment of the neutral layer within the panel stack, causing localized tensile stress and leading to micro-cracks or permanent deformation. The core solution lies in precise control of stress distribution and neutral layer positioning within the multilayer structure. Next-generation foldable devices will feature innovations like variable thickness ultra-thin glass (UTG) and optimized optically clear adhesive (OCA) with pronounced viscoelastic properties to help stabilize the neutral layer and reduce stress concentration during folding.
- Apple is expected to enter the foldable smartphone market as early as the second half of 2026.
- At CES 2026, Samsung showcased a crease-free display panel.
- OPPO recently introduced the Find N6, marketed with a "virtually crease-free" design.
The players
TrendForce
A global leader in technology industry analysis and consulting services, providing in-depth research into key market drivers such as AI, automotive technologies, 5G/6G communications, LEO satellites, and the IoT.
Samsung Electronics
A major competitor in the foldable smartphone market, expected to see its market share compressed due to Apple's entry.
Huawei
A major competitor in the foldable smartphone market, expected to see its market share compressed due to Apple's entry.
The takeaway
The key to crease improvement has shifted from hinge design to the synergistic optimization of material modulus, thickness distribution, and stress release, driven by material science. This transition marks the final milestone toward achieving a truly "crease-free" foldable display experience.
