Samsung’s next-generation foldables should go official in a few months, but if you were expecting a dramatic leap in display technology, you might want to realign your expectations. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, and the Wide Fold will reportedly feature the same M13 OLED panel used on the Fold 7 (or the Fold 6, for that matter).
Samsung’s M13 OLED panel has shown up more often than you’d think
Before we go any further, let me give you some context about OLED panels. They’re built by layering different light-emitting materials, including dopants, hosts, and premises, along with common layer materials. Samsung Display calls these combinations “material sets.”
These material sets are denoted by a capital ‘M’ followed by a number. That said, the Galaxy S24 debuted with the M13 OLED panel. Following its launch, Samsung also used the same panel on the Fold 6, Flip 6, the Fold 7, and the Flip 7. Even the Galaxy S26 and the Galaxy S26 Plus sport the two-year-old OLED panel.
Only the Galaxy S26 Ultra in the latest series has been upgraded to the newer M14 OLED panel. Enough with the context. The report suggests that the company’s purported foldables, expected to debut in the third quarter of 2026, could feature the same M13 panel.
Why is Samsung sticking with the M13 panel?
There could be three reasons behind the decision. First, displays have already hit a performance ceiling, i.e., they’re bright enough, can transition between refresh rates, and don’t consume as much power as they used to. As a result, switching materials (or the combinations we discussed above) every year no longer brings any significant changes.
Second, the smartphone market is already quite saturated in 2026, suggesting that flashy new technology (I’m referring to the new panel) doesn’t automatically translate into better sales, which all companies care about.
Finally, keeping the M13 OLED panel on the upcoming foldables will help Samsung keep prices under control. As with other components of a smartphone, introducing a new material set would almost certainly raise costs.
