Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Hoping to Outdo Rivals With Tougher Display for Foldable iPhone

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster


Apple is reportedly evaluating a tougher display film technology for its first foldable iPhone as it tests materials that could differentiate the durability and feel of the screen from rival devices.

Foldable-iPhone-2023-Feature-Iridescent-1.jpg

According to a new supply chain report from The Elec, Apple is evaluating transparent polyimide film as a protective layer that would sit on top of the ultra-thin glass used in the foldable display. The report says the company is currently testing two options for this outer film: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and clear polyimide (CPI).

Most of today's foldable displays use ultra-thin glass to improve clarity and rigidity, but the glass still requires a flexible polymer film on top to prevent scratches and damage. This is the layer that users actually touch, making it a key factor in overall durability and feel.

Samsung currently uses PET film as the protective layer on top of the ultra-thin glass in its Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip devices. The Elec says Apple's evaluation of CPI is rooted in a wish to differentiate its approach. CPI is more expensive than PET, but has better surface hardness and scratch resistance.

Kolon Industry has apparently emerged as a potential supplier of the material. The company previously built a mass production line for CPI film after anticipating strong demand from upcoming foldable devices. China-based Lens Technology is expected to supply the ultra-thin glass for the foldable iPhone and will handle bonding the final protective film to the glass.

The final decision on the protective film is expected to be made soon as Apple continues testing remaining components of the first foldable ‌iPhone‌. Other rumors suggest that the device will feature a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display, a 5.5-inch cover display, ‌Touch ID‌, two rear cameras, the A20 chip, and the "C2" modem. It is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max later this year.

Article Link: Apple Hoping to Outdo Rivals With Tougher Display for Foldable iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/05/tougher-display-for-foldable-iphone/
Last edited:
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: KeithBN and Z-4195
They can't even manufacture a decent screen on the Macbook Pro's with micro scratches and dents.

Going by comments from people who purchased a Ceramic Shield 2 17 Pro, it still scratches the screen with ease, with their fake promo video swinging a 17 pro against keys.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
  • Sad
Reactions: BugeyeSTI, G5isAlive, zuongpham and 2 others
Valve1138 said:
Who the hell wants a foldable iPhone?
Click to expand...
It will lagrely depend on how Apple market it: is it an iPhone that turns into a larger iPhone or an iPhone that turns into an iPad? Both have their merits of course. Sometimes its nice to unfold for more screen size and sometimes its nice to get stuff done.

Where Apple may come unstuck is pricing and output. Most of the Android competition are on sale for around £1500. Will Apple meet them at that price point? Honor and Samsung devices also feature a mature desktop-out feature which is not only really useful but justified because you want to use your £1500 device as much as possible!
 
Two scenarios: 1. It will sell like hotcakes if the price is right; 2. It will sell only to the wealthy who can afford it, making it a status symbol and thus making people want it more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jemorama
The screen durability is the one thing that puts me off a folding phone. I don't want a plastic screen that gets wrecked by fingernails and dust.

If Apple can really make a more durable display then I'll buy it. Actually, whoever makes a more durable screen will get my money whether that be Samsung, Apple, Google, etc.

I think the idea of folding phones is great but if you want more of my money then it needs to be durable. Until I see something I'm happy with then I'm sticking with boring old traditional smartphones that don't fold!
 
  • Like
Reactions: jdawgnoonan and jhwalker
krspkbl said:
The screen durability is the one thing that puts me off a folding phone. I don't want a plastic screen that gets wrecked by fingernails and dust.

If Apple can really make a more durable display then I'll buy it. Actually, whoever makes a more durable screen will get my money whether that be Samsung, Apple, Google, etc.

I think the idea of folding phones is great but if you want more of my money then it needs to be durable. Until I see something I'm happy with then I'm sticking with boring old traditional smartphones that don't fold!
Click to expand...
I've owned 10 different foldables now since the Z Fold 3 and two flips, some for up to a year and some for less time than that, and I've never had any issues with fingernail damage or dust. Fingernail damage shouldn't really be an issue unless you are pretty much trying to damage the screen with a fingernail. Just my nickel less three pennies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SteveJUAE, jhwalker and TechRunner
So that's why I didn't like the Z-fold; PET. Now it all makes sense. The squishy, plastic feel, and the sensation it would scratch easily. Still doesn't explain the show-stopping glare.

If Apple can somehow ameliorate these to an acceptable degree, I'll pay the Apple tax
 
Flexing glass, polymers, and electronics over and over again on the same stress point. What could possibly go wrong? Aside from a crease, that is. If this rumor is true then I hope those who but this new iPhone enjoy it, but it is not for me. Make a phone with two rigid screens joined by a precision hinge that leaves the screens at the same gap as the gap between pixels and I might be interested.
 
  • Like
Reactions: G5isAlive
wikiverse said:
Apparently people who need a 0.9 inch bigger screen on a much less durable and more expensive device, that is super chunky and thick.
Click to expand...

If the rumors are accurate, the inner screen on the foldable iPhone will have 59% more screen area than an iPhone 17 Pro Max despite being 15% smaller by volume. And that inner screen will have a whopping 90% more screen area than an iPhone 17 Pro despite being just 3% bigger by volume. The rumored specs seem almost impossibly good to me, so I’m not sure why you’re calling it “thick” and “chunky” and downplaying the usable screen size.
 
  • Like
Reactions: johnsawyercjs, G5isAlive, Damian. and 3 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back