Apple's first foldable iPhone leans on South Korean suppliers for key parts

Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, priced at USD 1,999, on Wednesday, with critical components heavily reliant on South Korean suppliers. The device's foldable screen, made exclusively by Samsung Display, is essential to its design. Samsung Display, Apple's sole foldable panel supplier for up to three years, provides custom screens leveraging its commercial-scale production since 2019. Analysts note other manufacturers struggle to meet Apple's quality, capacity, and consistency standards for this form factor. Memory costs, dominated by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, drove a nearly USD 300 bill-of-materials increase for the one-terabyte model. The Duo lacks Face ID and a telephoto lens, raising consumer questions about its value versus cheaper flagship alternatives.