As the floor opens for CES 2026's first official day, rumors are buzzing that Apple could be on the brink of bringing foldable devices to its iPhone lineup.

The buzz comes from glimpses at Samsung Display's new OLED foldable screen prototype, which appears to seamlessly flatten into a large tablet-like screen with imperceptible folds. Outlets in attendance, including The Verge, reported seeing the "Advanced Crease-less OLED panel" side-by-side with the existing Z Fold 7 — It was reportedly a noticeable upgrade.

The prototype is speculated to anchor Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Wide Fold, and because Samsung Display is an Apple hardware partner, the panel may also be the foundation for it's coveted creaseless screen, a pursuit that has previously delayed the tech giant from debuting a modular device. Apple is expected to release such a device later this year.

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Could this be the future of the iPhone?

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Meanwhile, Mashable reporters, who are on the ground pinpointing the conferences' buzziest tech items, got a chance to test Samsung's latest entry into the foldable market: the Galaxy Z TriFold, announced just last month. Samsung is joined by companies like Motorola, which is expected to debut its own book-style foldable device, rumored to be the AI-powered Motorola Razr Fold.

But the crease-free life isn't reality, yet. "The foldable panel showcased at the booth was an R&D concept, with no fixed timeline or plan for commercialization," Omnicom PR spokesperson Rosie Kim told The Verge. Following initial reports, the OLED prototype was removed from Samsung's booth.

Follow along with Mashable's live CES 2026 coverage for by-the-minute updates and glimpses inside the showcase.