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Imagine an iPhone that bends without worrying about scratches. Sounds like wishful thinking? Not if Apple leans on a different protective film for its rumored foldable.
Reports from South Korea suggest Apple is weighing polyimide as the cover layer over ultra-thin glass for its first foldable iPhone. That’s a notable departure from the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film Samsung currently uses on Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip models. Short version: polyimide is harder and resists scratches better, but it comes at a premium.
Why would Apple pay more? Two reasons. One, durability. Polyimide offers higher surface hardness, which translates to fewer visible marks after daily use. Two, differentiation. If Apple wants the iPhone Fold to feel and behave differently from Samsung’s devices, choosing a tougher film is a simple way to signal that distinction to buyers.
There’s history here. Samsung started with polyimide on the original Galaxy Fold back in 2019, then switched to PET the following year. The move was likely pragmatic—cost and manufacturing considerations—but it left room for material innovation. Apple may now be circling back to the harder film to polish the user experience.
Material choice, however, doesn’t necessarily change the supply chain winners. Industry chatter still points to Samsung Display as the likely supplier of the foldable OLED panels for Apple. In plain terms: even if Apple picks polyimide, Samsung could still sell the screens that go inside the device and profit handsomely.
So what can buyers expect? A premium feel. Maybe fewer micro-scratches after months in a pocket. Maybe a higher price tag. And perhaps a subtle marketing angle: this foldable isn’t just another bendable phone—it’s an iPhone designed to endure.
Rumors place the iPhone Fold’s arrival sometime in 2026, but Apple hasn’t confirmed anything. Until the company speaks, the material debate will keep proving one thing: foldables are as much about engineering trade-offs as they are about headline specs.
Source: sammobile
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