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Apple is quietly pushing toward a foldable iPhone that looks—and feels—more seamless than current rivals. New leaks from Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) suggest the company is focused on making the display appear crease-free, a problem that still plagues many Android foldables.
Why the crease still nags users
If you’ve used a modern Android foldable, you know the crease is hard to ignore in certain light or on flat colors. Even flagship lines like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series have a visible line along the folding axis after repeated use. Users may get used to it, but the visual ridge remains a clear differentiator—one Apple reportedly wants to erase.
UFG under the microscope: what Apple is testing
The leak says Apple is experimenting with ultra-thin flexible glass (UFG) in several thicknesses. Unlike polymer overlays used in many current devices, UFG sits atop the display stack and could dramatically reduce how a fold ages visually. In theory, glass promises a smoother, more premium surface, but the engineering bar is very high.
To work, UFG must bend thousands of times without cracking while the underlying display layers and hinge absorb movement without forming a ridge. That requires material science advances, tighter tolerances across the display stack, and sophisticated hinge mechanics—all areas where small changes ripple through supply chains and production lines.
Supply chains, rivals, and a crowded runway
DCS also notes that a couple of Chinese manufacturers are testing similar wide-fold designs using UFG. If component supply stabilizes, several crease-focused foldables could launch close to one another, setting up direct competition with Apple when its device arrives.
Apple reportedly isn’t planning to ship the foldable until September next year, giving it and its suppliers more time to refine UFG and related engineering challenges. That timeline also gives rival makers a window to finalize their own approaches—so the coming year may be decisive for foldable design direction.
Can Apple finally erase the line?
UFG offers a cleaner look than polymers, but it isn’t a guaranteed fix. Bending glass repeatedly without creating a permanent ridge is technically demanding, and even small inconsistencies in the display stack or hinge geometry can make a crease reappear. Still, Apple’s focus on a visually crease-free experience underscores how much this issue matters to consumers and how it could shape the next wave of foldable phones.
Source: gizmochina
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