Polyimide movie (PI) is harder than the same old polyethylene terephthalate movie (PET).
Picture: Kolon Industries
Apple presently weighs the choice of utilizing a extra sturdy show safety answer for its first foldable iPhone, in keeping with a brand new report. The harder movie would supply higher scratch resistance than what Samsung presently makes use of in its Galaxy Z Fold and different gadgets.
Apple would possibly attempt harder iPhone Fold show
The iPhone big evaluates clear polyimide (PI) movie because the protecting layer for the ultra-thin glass cowl of its foldable machine, in keeping with The Elec. The handset, seemingly known as iPhone Fold, will in all probability profit from iPad design cues and will launch within the second half of this yr alongside iPhone 18 Professional fashions. Apple weighs the PI possibility towards the extra widespread polyethylene terephthalate (PET) movie that Samsung makes use of on its foldable telephones.
Why the fabric selection issues
The protecting movie sits on high of the ultra-thin glass and is the layer customers truly contact, making it essential for each sturdiness and person expertise. Whereas ultra-thin glass gives higher visibility than different supplies, it’s vulnerable to breaking, which is why an extra protecting layer is critical.
Business sources recommend that clear PI movie is presently the main candidate for Apple’s foldable. It’s a transparent differentiation technique from opponents. Although dearer than PET movie, clear PI affords greater floor hardness and higher scratch resistance. So that would handle one of many foremost issues customers have had with foldable gadgets.
Potential provider and manufacturing particulars
AI Picture: Google Gemini
Kolon Industries emerged because the seemingly provider if Apple chooses clear PI movie. The corporate beforehand constructed the world’s first mass manufacturing line for the fabric. It anticipated robust demand within the foldable market. Curiously, the {industry} time period “CPI” (colorless PI) is definitely a Kolon Industries product title.
China’s Lens Know-how will in all probability provide the ultra-thin glass itself. And it could deal with the method of bonding the ultimate protecting movie to the glass. When Apple beforehand thought of PET movie, Lens Know-how reportedly proposed producing that materials immediately as properly.
More durable iPhone Fold show: Market context
Samsung initially used clear PI movie for its first Galaxy Fold in 2019 however switched to ultra-thin glass with PET movie safety beginning in 2020. This shift decreased demand for clear PI movie industry-wide. Nevertheless it has continued for use in some foldable IT merchandise in restricted volumes.
Apple’s last choice on the protecting movie materials may come quickly as the corporate continues testing parts for the foldable iPhone.
David Snow, an knowledgeable on Apple {hardware} and software program, writes on quite a lot of technological and cultural matters for Cult of Mac. They embody Apple information, know-how shopping for guides, and options about pc setups and Apple TV exhibits and films.
With 30 years of expertise overlaying know-how and different topics, he has written and edited for quite a few print and on-line publications, together with CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired Information, Purple Herring journal, Regulation.com, The Nationwide Regulation Journal and Regulation Know-how Information journal. Amongst different roles, he served as government editor of the Regulation.com community of internet sites and editorial director, know-how, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse College with majors in journal journalism and psychology. Whereas there, he labored as a reporter for The Day by day Orange newspaper and affiliate editor of Equal Time journal.
Founding father of the weblog On the Waterline, he may be reached on X (previously Twitter) through @atthewaterline and on Mastodon through @dsnow.
