Apple is known to take its time introducing new technologies to its devices. Whether it was the OLED screen or the 120Hz refresh rate, the Cupertino giant was a few years behind Android manufacturers. However, the company is always striving to improve implementation and make the technology even more useful.
According to Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), Apple is currently experimenting with ultra-thin, flexible glasses of varying thicknesses for the main screen of its rumored foldable device. While the company faces technical challenges in eliminating the crease, it is on the right track and could produce a crease-free leaflet in 2026.
Apple spends more time with its foldable display than anyone else
The company is said to be exploring a more complex, multi-layered, ultra-thin glass structure than we’re used to in current-generation foldable devices. The company could pair it with a redesigned hinge and sub-display support plate. Together, these components reduce stress on the fold area, resulting in a significantly less visible crease.
However, Apple’s ambitions don’t end with a new wrinkle-free foldable device. The company invests a lot of time and resources into developing a material solution that is wrinkle-resistant when new and avoids deep creases after thousands of wrinkles, i.e. after a few years of owning the phone. However, striving for perfection takes a long time.
While modern foldable devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 are closer to traditional smartphones than ever before, there is one aspect that lets them down: the display crease and the long-term durability of the handset. Well, Apple’s slightly strategic approach addresses these concerns head on.
While Apple’s first foldable device may not end up in the hands of the masses due to its price, it could well be the first foldable device to offer a crease-free screen in a much more robust body than we’re used to. If you’ve been planning on buying a foldable device that ships without a screen, get ready with a heart full of anticipation (and a wallet full of cash) by September 2026.
However, if Apple doesn’t find the right balance between components and folds, the release of the iPhone Fold could be delayed until 2027. Meanwhile, Apple is working with Samsung to bring iPhone notifications to a Galaxy smartwatch, if you’re interested.
