Highlights
- New glass from Apple and Samsung measures 40 micrometres at the folding crease and over 100 micrometres throughout the screen.
- Samsung is using titanium support plates, while Apple will add a second thin glass layer to avoid creasing.
- Both companies are expected to finalise production calls in late 2027, with the new glass on track for 2028 foldable phones.
Apple and Samsung are working with their supply partners to develop a new type of foldable phone glass for their 2028 models. As per recent industry reports, instead of using a single sheet of glass with the same thickness all over, the two tech giants are testing a smarter design that makes the Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) super thin only along the middle folding crease while keeping the rest of the screen much thicker. This change is meant to fix one of the biggest problems with foldable phones today: the soft, easily scratched screens caused by making the entire glass sheet ultra-thin so it can bend without breaking.
Apple and Samsung Foldables Could Adopt a New UTG Technology
Apple and Samsung Foldables could use thinner UTG at the folding area
Apple and Samsung are eyeing a major upgrade to foldable phone screens, trying out a new hybrid glass design for their 2028 phones. Both companies are working with suppliers to create a screen cover that bends easily in the middle but stays tough and durable everywhere else, instead of a uniform sheet of glass across the entire display.
How UTG Could Be Thinner Only at the Folding Area
iPhone Duo
Making this new glass requires a process where suppliers shave down only the middle strip where the phone bends to around 40 micrometers, keeping the flat halves thicker than 100 micrometers. To make sure the screen looks completely smooth, the thinner center groove is filled with a special resin that matches how light passes through the glass, hiding any visible lines or seams.
Why Thinner Glass at the Fold Could Matter for Foldable Phones
Galaxy Z Fold 8
Foldable phones put manufacturers in a difficult position today. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 (60 micrometres) and the iPhone Duo (45 micrometres) use thin glass all over the screen so it can fold, but that means the surface can be scratched easily. With the glass thick everywhere except the hinge, future foldables will be able to bend without cracking while finally providing a stronger, scratch-resistant screen for everyday use.
Future Apple and Samsung Foldable Display Technology
Apple and Samsung are taking different routes under the OLED display to improve their future foldables beyond the top glass layer. Apple is testing another 40-micrometer glass layer underneath the display to help flatten out the screen crease, while Samsung is still using titanium support plates as it works on its own under-panel glass technology.
When Could the New UTG Technology Debut?
If testing and production go well, this new foldable display glass could be in phones as early as 2028. Both Apple and Samsung are expected to make a final decision on if the technology is ready for mass production in Q4 2027.
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