Foldable iPhone Said to Feature 'Crease-Free' Display — Here's How

[Mat Jam Car]

I’m interested to see what Apple does here with its foldable iPhone.

Will I buy it? I’m not sure. When I’ve had flip phones in the past, flipping them open and closed soon got tedious. But a bigger screen in my pocket could be worth it. It all depends how well specified the device is (particularly in relation to battery life) or whether there are too many compromises.

Whatever I decide, you can be sure Samsung will copy whatever Apple has done to get the screen crease free.

 

[mark34]

Indeed they are.
But when Apple do it, it will be marketed as a 'gamechanger' and completely new! lol

I am glad they haven't entered sooner. The tech is not there for a product without too many compromises, in my opinion. They are just starting to get very close. But given the patient approach, they better really nail it!

 

[kshitijshah]

LMAO. The only products on the market in this space are low volume crap, over-engineered nonsense, with a vomit-inducing crease in the middle of the display.

There is nothing to be behind on.

people said the same things about large screen phones which Samsung moved first on

 

[svish]

Eagerly waiting for the foldable from Apple. Hope the cameras on the phone will be good. However looks like it is going to lack a telephoto lens which the competition is having.

 

[routine_analyst]

These foldable displays feel cheap when you touch them. iPhone users up until this point have been graced with gorilla glass that feels high end. Wonder how this will play out.

 

[acblue94]

Samsung Display will supply Apple with "crease-free" displays for its long-rumored foldable iPhone, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

To achieve a crease-free inner display, Kuo said the foldable iPhone will utilize a metal plate that can disperse and control the stress generated by bending the display. The metal plates will be primarily supplied by a company named Fine M-Tec, he said.

Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 still has a visible crease in the middle of its inner screen, so it seems like Samsung Display would have to be developing a custom solution for Apple in order for the foldable iPhone to truly have a "crease-free" design. It is unclear why Samsung has not yet used this apparent technology for its own foldable smartphones, which also primarily use metal plates from Fine M-Tec, according to Kuo.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the foldable iPhone would use a "much higher-quality hinge" compared to some other foldable smartphones, allowing for a "nearly invisible" crease when the inner screen is in an unfolded position.

Kuo said Apple is aiming to start mass production of the foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026, so it could launch next year. He previously said the device will have a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, two rear cameras, one front camera, and a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID sensors for user authentication.

The foldable iPhone will be as thin as 4.5mm when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded, according to Kuo. By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 4.2mm when unfolded, and 8.9mm when folded. This means the first foldable iPhone would be very slightly thicker than Samsung's latest offering, but Apple is just getting started.

The news about Samsung supplying Apple with foldable iPhone displays was also reported by various South Korean publications.

Article Link: Foldable iPhone Said to Feature 'Crease-Free' Display — Here's How

And this right here is why Apple is always a step ahead of Samsung. Samsung wants to be first for everything. They are on the 7th fold and still have this ugly crease. Apple isn’t in a rush and they feel perfection is better.

 

[AND411]

Agreed - a precision hinge with two separate fixed screens makes more sense

Surface Duo 2 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Okay, it's 11mm thick when folded, but it's also almost 5 years old.

But I don't know if thinner than 9mm is possible with a USB C port.

 

[bluespark]

I don't know why anyone wants this. Why would you want an extra step to using your phone? And a mechanical linkage that *will* wear out and cause problems.

They seem to be trying so hard to make something relatively pointless.

First, there is no “extra step to using your phone.” Assuming this is like the Samsung, it’s should do everything your current phone does when folded. You unfold it only when you want an extra large screen.

And it’s far from pointless, because many of us need (or want) large screens frequently. For example, I need to open documents I receive in e-mail many times a day. It’s very hard to read them on my iPhone, but easy to read them on a Samsung fold. Same thing with some games, photos, etc.

If Apple’s device is as good as Samsung’s, this will be one of the easiest purchase decisions I’ve ever made.

 

[tbayrgs]

Surface Duo 2 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Okay, it's 11mm thick when folded, but it's also almost 5 years old.

But I don't know if thinner than 9mm is possible with a USB C port.

Considering Samsung newly announce Fold 7 is thinner than 9 mm…I’d say yes, it’s possible.

 

[citysnaps]

This from the guy who typically is excited about everything Apple and against the typically negative comments ...
So, you have your use case, and without seeing/touching/using this rumored foldable iPhone you say "yuck".
So this one might not be for you but Apple will continue to offer slabs, so shouldn't impact you at all.
I am old school in that I carrry my phone in a holster on my belt and I'd love this form factor to potentially eliminate my iPad.
Options are a great thing.

Nope, wrong. Relax, and re-read my post... I'm merely expressing why a folding iPhone will not work for *ME*.

 

[Radeon85]

I don't know why anyone wants this. Why would you want an extra step to using your phone? And a mechanical linkage that *will* wear out and cause problems.

They seem to be trying so hard to make something relatively pointless.

Because I would love an iPhone that could be expanded into an iPad size screen.

 

[repoman016]

Not interested. Such an overhyped gimmick.

Even if you don't ever want to use one, how can you not be excited to see what the competition brings to the table? I welcome this addition and am anxious to see what someone besides samsung can do (not mentioning huewei)

 

[contacos]

Dealing with a foldable iPhone in my shirt pocket would quickly become annoying. Both in terms of thickness/weight and unfolding/folding whenever I want to quickly use it when out and about (for making photographs, answering/making calls, getting information via Safari, etc.) and putting it back into my shirt pocket.

Yuck.

That's not how Foldables work ... you do realize it also has a outside screen?

 

[contacos]

These foldable displays feel cheap when you touch them. iPhone users up until this point have been graced with gorilla glass that feels high end. Wonder how this will play out.

Nothing feels cheap about my Oppo Find N5. Love it's built quality

 

[jole]

Just have two static displays that come together tightly, worst case scenario is a very thin line.
We put up with the Trinitron mask for years

Even worse cases: 1) tiny spec of sand that will break the display when pinched between two glass panels, or 2) lawsuit from kids leaving their fingers pinched between the displays.

 

[TooManyNotes]

I don't know why anyone wants this. Why would you want an extra step to using your phone? And a mechanical linkage that *will* wear out and cause problems.

They seem to be trying so hard to make something relatively pointless.

It's not an extra step to using your phone. It's an extra step for when you want to go into tablet mode. As opposed to having to actually buy a separate tablet and carry around two devices. Which seems more inconvenient to you?

 

[GioGiusi]

people said the same things about large screen phones which Samsung moved first on

I promise the same thing was not said about a slightly larger phone.

 

[lovehateapple]

It will be interesting to see what apple comes up with, but I definitely will not be buying its first offering.
For starters, I want to see how durable the hinge / fold / crease is and more importantly I would rather save my money for a second or third generation AVP.

 

[SFjohn]

This is too funny: To achieve a crease-free inner display, Apple will use a "nearly invisible" crease… It’s like improving the crease will make it not have one (but it’s still there and will get worse and worse with wear). If the demo units in the stores are cycled open & closed 10,000 times and I can’t see the crease viewing it from 1 foot away l’ll consider that pretty much crease free, but until then it’s the iPhone Crease to me. 💸

 

[Agent007]

Samsung is 7 generations ahead and Apple's foldable will cost more. I'm sure Apple has been working on this for nearly a decade but there's a stark difference between testing prototypes and releasing a finished product to millions of users, then learning from their feedback, developing more, and repeating that process 6 more times. Either they absolutely wow everyone with this thing or they'll have to lean heavily on the ecosystem and fanboys who will stand in line to buy it regardless of value or usability. Also, single-screen phones have evolved to be extremely durable since 2007 - 16PM feels like a tank compared to an 8 Plus. I think a lot of users are wary of replacing their Gorilla Glass, IP68 slabs with a thin, hinged device especially when foldables are hard to encase and impossible to encase well.

 

[zenmacx]

Experienced long term Apple customers are wising up and reluctant to fall for the hype. Time for this company to deliver instead of promise.

Only those mesmerized by the slick marketing tactics are quick to sing the old Apple buyers refrain "just take my money".

 

[CrysisDeu]

Agreed - a precision hinge with two separate fixed screens makes more sense. It would be thinner (nearly a cm depth for an iPhone with a foldable flexible screen? No thank you), more robust, and less expensive than a foldable screen, which is likely to have a crease no matter what they do. The bendable screens should be saved for relative fixed, but curved surfaces (like armlets, or larger smart watches).

Then again, I mercilessly mocked Android when it came out, so I could be wrong. 😇

I don’t want a black bar in the middle when I play games or watch videos. Creases are not really visible when the screen is turned on and you are watching content on it

 

[eifelbube]

I am interested too … might finally upgrade from my XS. Would love the return of Touch ID. Holding off on “super …” because I am afraid the price will spoil the interest 😊

 

[eifelbube]

Watch out for marketing-speak. A "nearly invisible" crease is marketing-speak for a visible crease.

… so would a “nearly invisible” crease be less visible than a “barely visible” crease? 😊

 

[enkidoodler]

I have to go back and read *every* post, but what this brought to mind immediately was Apple's acquisition or partnership with a company that was really into super flexible metal alloys or some such? Liquid Metal anyone?

That said we had to wait a bit for xfukity service at the local shop and I played with the various iPhones and droid offerings. The screens ARE better, but after a few years (>2 or even >3 like my iPhone 12mx+) I bet that crease is ($&$%^!$#$