Foldable smartphones have come a long way, but there’s one compromise buyers have largely had to accept: the visible crease running down the middle of the display. Brands have worked for years to reduce it with stronger hinges, better materials, and slimmer designs, yet the crease has remained the most obvious reminder of today’s foldable limitations. It’s also widely seen as one of the key reasons Apple has been slow to release its own foldable iPhone.
That may be about to change.
At CES 2026, Samsung showcased a foldable display that appears completely crease-free, hinting that the next era of foldable phones could finally deliver the seamless “glass-like” experience consumers have been waiting for. This comes at an interesting time, too, as reports suggest Apple’s upcoming iPhone Fold has also reached a major design milestone by eliminating the crease. If that’s accurate, the first crease-free foldable phone could arrive sooner than many expected.
A crease-free Samsung foldable has been shown off, but a commercial launch still isn’t guaranteed
Images of the demo unit were shared by well-known tipster Ice Universe, showing an unnamed Samsung foldable fully opened and resting flat on a desk. From the angle shown, the center line where a crease normally appears looks impressively smooth—essentially invisible.
What Samsung changed to make this possible hasn’t been explained. That’s the big mystery. For years, Samsung has steadily refined its foldables, making them thinner, lighter, and more durable. But even with multiple generations of hinge tweaks and display improvements, the crease has never fully disappeared—until now, at least in a demo.
So the big question becomes: is this a true breakthrough ready for mass production, or a prototype that’s still too expensive for mainstream devices?
Why Apple and Samsung may be racing toward the same display solution
Apple has reportedly faced technical hurdles while trying to create a crease-free foldable iPhone. One approach said to be under evaluation involves Ultra-Thin Flexible Glass (UFG), a next-generation material designed to bend repeatedly while maintaining a smoother surface.
While nothing is confirmed, it’s plausible Apple and Samsung have been working toward similar solutions in parallel. Samsung has the manufacturing scale and foldable experience, while Apple is known for holding products back until key user-experience problems are solved. If both companies are chasing advanced flexible glass technology, it could explain why a crease-free foldable is suddenly appearing in demos and leaks.
There are also reports that Samsung is preparing a new foldable concept to compete more directly with Apple’s foldable iPhone—possibly a “Wide Fold” device with a passport-style form factor targeted for a fall 2026 release. If true, it would signal that Samsung is not only improving its foldables, but rethinking the form factor strategy as competition heats up.
The problem: going crease-free may come with a premium price
Even if Samsung has the technology ready, cost could determine whether consumers actually see it in stores. According to Ice Universe, Samsung’s Mobile Experience (MX) division would need to be willing to pay a higher price to adopt this crease-free display approach.
That matters because Samsung is reportedly dealing with rising component expenses, including increasing DRAM costs. Those pressures could lead to higher prices across future devices—potentially affecting the Galaxy S26 series as well as upcoming foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. If budgets tighten, Samsung may reserve crease-free displays for limited models or delay the upgrade until the cost becomes easier to absorb.
Who launches the first crease-free foldable phone?
Based on the current information, Apple’s iPhone Fold may be positioned to debut crease-free foldable tech first, assuming it’s ready for production and meets Apple’s durability standards. Meanwhile, Samsung’s demo is a strong signal that the company can do it—but whether it will ship the technology soon depends on pricing, supply chain readiness, and internal priorities.
Either way, the direction is clear: crease-free foldable phones are no longer a distant dream. With Samsung demonstrating the concept publicly and Apple reportedly close to solving the same challenge, foldables may finally be approaching the smooth, premium display experience that many buyers have been waiting for.
