Samsung is redirecting Display Driver IC production earmarked for its 2027 smartphones to increase output of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, after demand for the foldable phone reportedly exceeded the company’s initial supply.
The move follows launch-period shipping delays and comes as Samsung seeks to produce a further one million Fold 8 units. A report by ZDNet Korea said the company has struggled to expand production because of a shortage of the specialist components.
Samsung seeks more Galaxy Z Fold 8 components
The parts in question are Display Driver ICs, which control the screens on smartphones. They are being manufactured for Samsung by Taiwan-based semiconductor foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) using a 22-nanometre process.
UMC has reportedly reached the limit of its current production capacity for the components. In response, Samsung is prioritising DDI manufacturing capacity previously secured for products planned for 2027 and shifting it towards the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
The company is not taking finished components designed for other handsets and fitting them to the Fold 8. DDIs are produced specifically for each phone model; the change concerns how manufacturing capacity is allocated between product lines.
Samsung has also asked for an expedited manufacturing run for the Fold 8’s DDIs, described in the report as a “super hot run” or express service, in an effort to address the supply constraint.
Availability has already been affected, with some Galaxy Z Fold 8 configurations shown as out of stock on Samsung’s US website. The reported production changes indicate the company is attempting to respond to demand without altering the phone’s component design.
The development comes as the wider foldable-phone market continues to expand. Research firm Omdia said this week that global foldable shipments are expected to reach about 36 million units by 2028, roughly double the current level.
