Apple's Foldable iPhone Getting Closer! "Glass Sandwich" Screen is Ready

The iPhone Fold is said to use a two-layer ultra-thin glass structure (photo: x @abhishek)

JAKARTA - Apple seems to be serious about pursuing perfection in the folding phone market. The latest news says the company is developing a new glass-coated screen design for the iPhone Fold, in order to overcome classic problems such as folding and screen damage.

This information comes from leaker Digital Chat Station which revealed that Apple not only relies on "self-healing glass" technology or a hinge without a gap, but also overhauls the screen structure from the inside.

"Glass Sandwich" Screen Technology Is The Key

In the leak, the iPhone Fold is said to use a two-layer ultra-thin glass structure - a combination of UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) and UFG (Ultra-Thin Flexible Glass). Unlike conventional designs, the screen panel will be "flanked" by two layers of glass, one above and one below.

This approach is not just a design experiment. There are two main goals that Apple wants to achieve.

First, prevent direct contact between the screen and the hinge mechanism. On folding devices, friction between the screen and the hinge is often a source of damage. With the additional glass layer, this risk can be suppressed.

Second, reduce mechanical stress when the device is folded. The glass layer will absorb most of the stress from the open-close process, so that the main screen panel remains more durable.

This move shows Apple trying to avoid the problems that have plagued folding phones - from creases to long-term durability.

Even so, this report is still at the rumor level. Digital Chat Station's track record is known to be productive, but not always accurate.

What is clear is that Apple is said to be targeting the launch of the iPhone Fold in 2026, with a major focus on screen quality. Even if the fold is still there, it is reportedly made almost invisible by users.

Interestingly, this development direction is in line with the innovation of Samsung Display which previously had exhibited a non-folding OLED panel at the CES. Considering that Samsung is one of Apple's main suppliers, it is not impossible that similar technology will be adopted.

If this leak is accurate, the iPhone Fold could be more than just a "trend", but Apple's attempt to set a new standard in the folding phone segment - which has been looking for its ideal shape.