Samsung may have offered an early look at where its foldables are headed. At CES 2026, Samsung Display showed off a new foldable OLED panel that appears to significantly reduce, and possibly all but eliminate, the crease that has long defined the category.
The panel was displayed at Samsung Display’s booth alongside what looked like a current Galaxy Z Fold 7, giving visitors a direct comparison. When fully opened, the prototype panel appeared largely flat, with only a faint bend visible under certain lighting. In normal viewing, the crease was hard to spot.
The demo was surfaced in a short video shared by leaker Max Jambor on X. Compared to the Z Fold 7, which already improved on earlier designs, the new panel looks like a more meaningful step forward rather than a minor refinement.
Samsung hasn’t said which device this panel is intended for, but the timing points toward the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which is widely expected around mid-2026. According to reports, the panel uses a laser-drilled metal plate beneath the OLED layer to spread stress more evenly when the screen folds, reducing long-term creasing. Some versions of the prototype also appear to use under-display camera technology.
There’s also speculation that this panel may be part of Samsung Display’s work for Apple, which is rumored to be developing its own foldable device for a later 2026 launch. That hasn’t been confirmed, but it could explain the focus on minimizing visible imperfections.
For Samsung, a truly crease-light — or nearly crease-less — foldable could address one of the biggest remaining complaints about the form factor. If the technology makes it into a commercial product, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could feel much closer to a conventional tablet when unfolded, rather than a device that constantly reminds you it bends.
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