Fine M-Tec is set to become a cornerstone supplier for Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone, securing over 80% of the supply for metal plates—a crucial component in achieving a crease-free screen, according to new reports and insights from industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The South Korean firm is investing KRW 17.5 billion (approximately USD 12.6 million) into expanding its high-precision laser processing and production capacities to meet the surging demand from both Apple and Samsung.
Driving the Crease-Free Foldable Revolution
Apple is opting for Samsung Display’s advanced flexible panels for its first foldable iPhone, targeting mass production in the second half of 2026. Samsung’s panels, paired with Fine M-Tec’s engineered metal plates, are designed to distribute folding stress across the display, dramatically minimizing crease formation—a long-standing problem in foldables. Unlike conventional etched supports, Fine M-Tec is adopting laser drilling to create intricate microstructures, effectively controlling stress distribution and improving durability to match Apple’s strict design standards.
Fine M-Tec’s Expanding Role: Details and Impact
- Production and Supply: Fine M-Tec will ship these metal plates from the first quarter of 2026, at an estimated unit price of $30–35. Shipment targets are as high as 13–15 million units in 2026, with more than 80% supply share forecasted, factoring in yield losses and repair stock requirements.
- Manufacturing Expansion: To handle this volume, Fine M-Tec is expanding its Vietnam facility—a move detailed in a Korean Exchange filing and aligned with Apple’s ramp-up schedule.
- Laser Drilling vs. Etching: The switch to laser drilling reflects both Apple and Samsung’s move to high-precision components, as laser-drilled plates offer better crease resistance and command higher average selling prices than traditional etched parts.
- Industry Ripple Effects: Fine M-Tec’s partnership isn’t limited to Apple. The supplier is also doubling down on Samsung’s next-generation foldables—expected to be the exclusive supplier of metal plates for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in 2026, following a significant role in the Z Fold 7 series. Samsung’s Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 models alone are projected to reach 7 million shipments in 2025, marking a 40% year-on-year increase in demand for these components.
Engineering Out the Crease
Creasing in foldable screens largely results from localized stress at the fold point. Ming-Chi Kuo explains that Fine M-Tec’s metal plates are explicitly engineered to redirect this stress along the panel, mitigating deformation and fatigue over time. Their integration into Samsung’s crease-free design, now adopted by Apple, could set a new standard for the industry.
Looking Ahead
The move signals a watershed moment for the foldables market. If Apple’s crease-free design proves effective, it could accelerate innovation across the industry, compelling further investments in precision manufacturing and component engineering. Fine M-Tec’s ongoing investments, including the newly announced multi-year outlay through January 2027, position it at the forefront of this market shift.
Further updates are expected as Apple and Samsung finalize production strategies leading into late 2026, but Fine M-Tec is already poised to become one of the biggest winners of the crease-free foldable display era.