The upcoming iPhone Fold will be Apple’s first and long-awaited attempt at a foldable smartphone, and it is predicted to be a big hit. According to a new report from trendforce Cupertino’s first foldable will help it reach 19.3% market share for foldables in 2026, which will put it in third place directly behind Huawei and Samsung.
Apple is a late entrant to the folding phone market, but TrendForce analysts believe pent-up demand from Apple users who want to try foldable phones, combined with a strong brand and ecosystem loyalty, will propel Apple as one of the market leaders in this area.
One of Apple’s main goals with the iPhone Fold is to reduce folding display creases, and the new report highlights how materials science is the solution. We’ve already heard about Apple’s use of 3D printing and liquid metal along with dual layers of ultra-thin glass (UTG) in the hinge of the iPhone Fold, but now we have another key component – ​​optically clear adhesive (OCA).
This compound is actually already used in foldable phone displays from other manufacturers, but Apple is trying to optimize its behavior in terms of absorbing stress and changing its stiffness, as well as reducing stress buildup in one area.
iPhone Fold main display render
The OCA is typically located between different screen layers, and Apple’s version will reportedly help deal with the three main issues with folding displays. It can absorb stress evenly, so it doesn’t concentrate in one visible area, while also keeping the display layers perfectly aligned and attached. It is also designed to remain completely clear, reducing the possibility of light distortion and degradation of visual performance.
