Apple is evaluating an all-new material for the iPhone Fold display

The anticipation for the first iPhone Fold may be nearing its final stages, with a commercial debut that many analysts expect within this year.

Although Apple is entering this market segment with a significant delay relative to Android competitors, the strategy appears to be to offer distinctive technical solutions to close the gap in build quality.

A recent report from South Korea has shed light on a design detail that could make the difference, namely the choice of materials for display protection.

According to the specialized outlet The Elec, Apple is reportedly evaluating a display configuration that significantly departs from current industry standards.

Apple, display di iPhone Fold più costoso ma più resistente?

The crucial issue concerns the protective film to apply over Ultra Thin Glass (UTG), the very thin layer of glass that covers the OLED panel.

While the established practice for manufacturers like Samsung involves using a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, rumors suggest Apple is strongly leaning toward adopting a transparent polyamide (PI) film.

Although a final decision has not yet been formalized, the advantages of polyamide seem to align better with the qualitative standards demanded by the California-based company.

A PI layer, while being significantly more expensive than PET, offers superior scratch resistance.

It’s interesting to note that Samsung actually used polyamide in the first generation of the Galaxy Fold, although in that case without the UTG, reporting several structural issues that eventually led to the switch to the current combination of ultra-thin glass and PET.

Apple would therefore aim for an unprecedented synthesis: combining the robustness of UTG glass with the surface resistance of polyamide, creating a more solid protective ‘package’ than the competition offers.

The problem is durability

The need to improve the durability of foldable panels is evident when looking at devices released in 2025. Independent tests, such as those conducted by the well-known YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, have often highlighted the fragility of current plastic protections.

High-end devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z TriFold tend to scratch easily, showing visible marks already at Mohs level 2.

In practical terms, this means that even the pressure of a fingernail can permanently damage the surface. By contrast, traditional exterior displays, protected by Gorilla Glass, resist up to Mohs level 6.

This durability gap between inner and outer screen is a trade-off that Apple intends to reduce. Adopting the UTG-PI combination would serve precisely to mitigate this weak point, offering a user experience less prone to everyday wear and making the device more “ready” for intensive use without the fears that often accompany today’s foldable owners.

Aesthetics and costs: the price of innovation

The search for superior materials intersects with another absolute priority for Cupertino engineers: eliminating the central crease. Rumors indicate that Apple will not accept the typical dip on the hinge seen on many Android devices, opting for more complex hinge and display technologies.

Samsung Display, the expected partner for panel supply, has already shown crease-free display prototypes at CES 2026, a technology that could debut on the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 but would find its fullest expression on Apple’s device.

However, implementing a crease-free display combined with the use of the expensive polyamide film will have inevitably cost repercussions on the final price.

The bill of materials for the first iPhone Fold is expected to be particularly high, a factor that could push the retail price toward very significant figures. Rumors suggest a positioning around $2,400.