Samsung has beaten Apple to the foldable smartphone, and it could have a sneaky trick up its sleeve to prevent the iPhone-maker from catching up quickly.
Analysts expect Samsung to hold off on selling its Infinity Flex displays to delay a foldable iPhone. It’s unlikely Apple would be able to source flexible OLED displays elsewhere.
Apple already relies on Samsung to produce the OLED screens found inside its latest iPhone lineup. The South Korean company is widely regarded as one of the best display makers — especially when it comes to smaller panels for mobile devices.
It’s no surprise, then, that Samsung was one of the first to market with a foldable phone. And if the $2,000 Galaxy Fold proves to be a success, it may be the only foldable phone we see from a major smartphone manufacturer for some time.
Samsung has the power to delay a foldable iPhone
Goldman Sachs analysts believe the Galaxy Fold is the “main potential challenge” for the iPhone in the high-end smartphone market. The pricey device, which will be available on April 27, is one of the first designed to replace your phone and tablet.
Some iPhone fans will be salivating at the idea of a similar device powered by iOS, but it may be years before that comes to fruition. That’s because Samsung could choose to postpone sales of its flexible OLED panels to its biggest rival.
“We see this as challenging for Apple who could find themselves with no access to the critical flexible OLED technology for which we believe Samsung has at least a two-year lead over other display competitors,” the analysts explain.
Will foldable phones take off?
Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Galaxy Fold will be a success. It currently feels more like a prototype device than a final product, and with a $2,000 price tag, it’s incredibly expensive.
Few are convinced the handset will be a big hit for Samsung, then, but that doesn’t mean foldable phones won’t be big in years to come. Whether or not the iPhone is competing in that market, as things stand, is up to Samsung.
Via: Business Insider
