Samsung made the iPhone Duo's display, but that's not the "gotcha" you think it is

Published Sep 29, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Joe Fedewa has been writing about technology for over a decade. Android and the rest of the Google ecosystem have been a focus for years, as well as reviewing devices, hosting podcasts, filming videos, and writing tutorials. Joe loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer and food blogger. He has written thousands of articles, hundreds of tutorials, and dozens of reviews. Before joining How-To Geek, Joe worked at XDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google ecosystem. He got his start in the industry covering Windows Phone on a small blog, and later moved to Phandroid where he covered Android news, reviewed devices, wrote tutorials, created YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast. From smartphones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe is interested in all kinds of technology. After several years of jailbreaking and heavily modifying an iPod Touch, he moved on to his first smartphone, the HTC DROID Eris. He's been hooked ever since. Seven years after Samsung's first foldable phone, Apple finally joined the club with the iPhone Duo. It's a very solid first attempt, but if you dare suggest it's better than a Galaxy Z Fold in any way, supporters are quick to chirp: "Um, actually, Samsung made the iPhone Duo parts." Respectfully, who cares? This is true, of course. Anyone who has been following tech news for a while knows that Samsung manufactures multiple components for Apple devices — not just the iPhone Duo. However, the situation is not quite what it seems, and it's definitely not the "gotcha!" that Samsung and Android fans want it to be. Which iPhone Duo parts are made by Samsung? Continuing a long-term relationship Apple and Samsung present themselves as competitors to consumers, and they take every opportunity to poke fun at each other. Behind the scenes, however, Samsung is one of Apple's most important hardware partners — and has been for nearly a decade. Starting with the iPhone X in 2017, Apple has relied on Samsung to manufacture its OLED panels. Apple has tried to branch out to other suppliers, but the simple fact is, Samsung's OLED technology is the best in the business. On top of that — and maybe even more importantly — no one else can manufacture displays at the scale Apple demands. Samsung is responsible for "Super Retina HD," "ProMotion," "Dynamic Island," and the "Super Retina XDR" foldable display inside the iPhone Duo. It's the first device to use Samsung's M16 OLED panel. Rumors claim that Apple signed a three-year exclusive deal with Samsung to supply these displays, and they cost the company $250 per phone. In previous iPhone models, Samsung has made more than the display. It's also been involved in manufacturing the A-series chips and memory. However, for the iPhone Duo, it seems that only the screens — both inner and cover — and hinge components were made by Samsung Display. TSMC makes the A20 Pro chip. Samsung Electronics vs Samsung Display The same, but different Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek Samsung is a brand name that we know well as consumers. It's on everything from smartphones to TVs to refrigerators. The thing is, there isn't really just one "Samsung" — it's a conglomerate made up of many subsidiaries. Samsung Electronics makes products that are sold directly to consumers: TVs, home appliances, Galaxy phones, tablets, laptops, and watches. In addition, it manufactures processors and memory. Samsung Display, on the other hand, is a separate entity that manufactures screens to the desired specifications of a device maker. This is who Apple worked with for the iPhone Duo display panels. Now, Samsung Display isn't even fully owned by Samsung — it's a joint venture with Sony. Samsung Electronics is not obligated to use Samsung Display as its supplier, and it has opted to do so numerous times. In reality, Samsung Electronics' relationship with Samsung Display is similar to that of Apple, Google, and every other company that has purchased from it. Apple still calls the shots Samsung's involvement isn't what you think Credit: Apple As I mentioned at the top, people love to use this information to degrade Apple. If you praise the iPhone Duo's nifty "nano-texture" matte screen and peak brightness, you'll quickly be told that Samsung is the one who did it. Implying that Apple deserves no credit, and it's all a bunch of stolen valor. That is far from true. Apple was intimately involved in the process. Samsung Display has more in common with TSMC or Foxconn than it does with Samsung Electronics. It manufactures displays to meet the requirements set by the device maker. Apple designed the iPhone Duo, and it's up to Samsung Display and various other suppliers to build the parts to the exact specifications. In short, the iPhone Duo's display is the way it is because of decisions made by Apple. The "nano-texture" coating is a perfect example. This is not some wildly new technology; it's a simple design choice that any company could have included in their foldable phone. Good or bad, Apple is responsible — not Samsung I don't understand what point is trying to be made when people mention all of this. Samsung Display made the screens for the iPhone Duo, but Samsung Electronics is the company people are thinking about when they say it. The distinction is critical. If we're praising the iPhone Duo's display, and the argument is that Samsung deserves the credit, why? There was nothing stopping Samsung Electronics from building a similar display into a Galaxy Z Fold. The same goes for the hinge design, which allowed for the Duo to reach an IP68 rating. Samsung Display manufactured these parts, but Samsung Electronics didn't design the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series to have an IP68 rating. The fact of the matter is Apple and Samsung (Display) are friends, but iPhone and Galaxy are enemies. These devices have components made by the same manufacturer, yet they're different because of who is ultimately making decisions. The iPhone Duo is the culmination of many manufacturers, but it's an Apple product through and through.