Samsung Display has seen its flexible OLED smartphone panel shipments grow sharply this year, largely driven by robust iPhone demand. In the first half of 2026, Samsung shipped around 120 million flexible OLED panels, representing a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This surge contributed approximately 65% of the total rise in global flexible OLED panel shipments.([macrumors.com](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/strong-iphone-sales-boosting-samsung-oled/))
iPhone’s Role in the OLED Upsurge
The rise in OLED shipments stems mainly from Apple’s iPhone lineup. As Apple continues to ship high volumes of phones featuring OLED displays, Samsung Display benefits substantially—Samsung is a major supplier of Apple’s flexible OLED panels. The demand from Apple is expected to remain strong through the second half of 2026.([macrumors.com](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/strong-iphone-sales-boosting-samsung-oled/))
What’s Ahead: iPhone 18 Pro, Foldable Models & Market Expectations
Market researcher Sigmaintell anticipates that demand will persist through the latter half of 2026, propelled in part by Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and its long-awaited foldable iPhone models, set to debut in September. These new device introductions are expected to give demand for flexible OLED panels another significant lift.([macrumors.com](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/strong-iphone-sales-boosting-samsung-oled/))
This aligns with industry reports that show Samsung Display continuing to scale up its manufacturing and meet growing orders, with flexible OLED technology increasingly critical not just for smartphones but also potentially wider product lines in the future.([macrumors.com](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/strong-iphone-sales-boosting-samsung-oled/))
In short, Samsung Display’s latest shipment figures underscore how much it relies on Apple’s success in the premium smartphone market. With Apple rolling out new OLED-equipped models in the months ahead, flexible OLED panels are poised to remain in high demand.
Why It Matters: Flexible OLED panels are more complex and costly to produce than rigid displays, but they offer superior design flexibility, thinner bezels, curved edges, lighter weight, and stronger durability under bending stress. For Samsung—already dominant in OLED infrastructure—this surge reinforces its leading position while extending its reach across devices beyond smartphones, including wearables and foldables.
