It was something that no one could understand: Apple was the only one of the major mobile phone brands that did not yet have a folding model. This will finally be resolved shortly. And not only that: The future foldable iPhone will also come with a self-healing screen.
The manufacturer has just filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) the patent for a foldable screen capable of repairing itself through different methods: applying heat, light or electric currents. Simply impressive. And a totally differentiating feature.
The news that Apple was working on a foldable mobile phone model had already been rumored for a long time. In fact, it was something that had already been anticipated in some specialized media, such as the Chinese website MyDrivers. However, no one expected this announcement.
Now all the lights point towards the imminent presentation of the next foldable iPhone with self-healing screen, although the patent does not expressly mention mobile phones. This makes us think that the new technology could be present in many other devices, such as laptops, monitors or tablets.
The number one problem with folding phones
It does not matter that the brand is trustworthy, not that the materials used are the best. All models of folding mobiles have the same weak point: The hinge. It is a very complex element that puts the resistance of the screen to the limit.
Such is the importance of the hinge or fold that, generally, it is what determines the size of the device. It also determines the final thickness of the phone, the degree of protection and flexibility of the flexible screen, as well as its useful life.
All screens of all mobile phones are exposed to bumps and scratches. However, in the case of folding mobile phones, one more risk must be added to these risks: the possibility of screen warping. Especially due to the fold that, over time, ends up forming after a certain amount of time by opening and closing it. Their very nature makes these panels more prone to scratches than conventional glass screens. All this ends up affecting the aesthetics of the mobile, but also its correct functioning.
This is where Apple's initiative becomes important: a screen with self-healing capabilities. It sounds like science fiction, but it's real.
What is the self-healing screen like?
The exact details of Apple's patent are not yet known in detail, although it seems that everything is based on a layer of material with self-healing capabilities. It is not known if this layer will cover the entire screen or only the flexible part, where the fold is located. This material would include a elastomer layer.
This prodigious self-healing technology is used to fix small scratches and dents through. This process of “healing” the damaged screen can be started or accelerated by a series of external stimuli, basically applying heat, light or electrical currents.
We do know that, to proceed with the repair, the device will need to be charging at that time.
When is the first foldable iPhone?
No matter how much the suggestive name of iPhone Fold Through internet forums and blogs, the reality is that hardly anything is known about the first folding mobile phone in Apple's history: neither its specifications nor its commercial name. Neither its price nor, of course, its release date. You should not take the images that accompany this post very seriously, since they are simple assumptions.
Despite this, there are rumors that would come from people working on the project and that suggest that this new iPhone would have an 8-inch internal screen and that the model could be marketed in two variants: one in a folding book-type format and another, more classic, in a clamshell type. The idea of this is to stand up to all the competing formats and carve out a niche in the market.
The differentiating factor, the one that would mark distances with others rivals such as the Galaxy Z Fold4 or the Motorola RAZR 40 Ultra It is the self-healing screen, something that represents a notable innovation.
In any case, both prototypes would still be in a very early phase of development. Apple does not want to launch these models until it is sure that they are going to be quality products, not simple experiments (the prestige of the brand is at stake). From this we must deduce that work will be done at a slower pace, subjecting the new models to many tests. So It will be difficult for them to hit the market before 2026. Patience.
Most likely, before the foldable iPhone with a self-healing screen, a foldable iPad model with similar features will see the light of day. We will be attentive to all the news that comes from the brand on this topic.