Apple supplier LG Innotek files foldable-screen patents as Samsung may end Galaxy Z Flip line

LG Innotek, a South Korean component maker, has filed around 30 patent applications in Korea for flexible support plates placed behind OLED panels in future foldable Apple devices. The patents describe elastic elements made from metals, alloys, composites, carbon fibre, ceramic, glass, sapphire or conductive materials that would absorb mechanical stress at the hinge and enhance durability for phones or tablets expected to open thousands of times.

Separately, a rumor traced to Chinese leaker Ice Universe suggests Samsung could discontinue its flip‑style Galaxy Z Flip series after the next model, possibly shifting focus to its larger book‑type foldables. The speculation cites rising memory‑chip costs, higher prices for flip devices, and dwindling competition in the western market as factors that may drive Samsung to concentrate on more profitable segments.

Both developments highlight how major smartphone makers and their suppliers are navigating the technical and economic challenges of the foldable‑phone market.