The dirty secret about foldable phones is that they feel cheap the moment you actually start using them. Not because of the hinge or the crease, but because of something far more basic: that protective film on top scratches easier than a CD from 2003.
Apple has apparently figured this out, and their solution will make Samsung’s approach look half-baked.
Apple is reportedly testing clear polyimide film as the protective layer for its first foldable iPhone. This is the material that sits on top of the ultra-thin glass, the part your finger actually touches every single time you swipe or tap.
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Samsung uses PET film for this on the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip because it’s flexible and cheap. The problem? It has the scratch resistance of a plastic grocery bag.
Clear polyimide costs more, but it’s significantly harder and more resistant to the kind of everyday wear that makes current foldables look beat up after a month of normal use.
Apple’s choice of the premium option isn’t surprising. What’s surprising is that it took this long for someone to prioritize the user experience over cost-cutting.
This is the kind of detail that separates Apple from everyone else. They wait, they watch competitors struggle with real-world problems, then they show up with a device that fixes those issues. Sometimes the fix is as simple as choosing better materials.
Kolon Industry apparently saw this coming and built a mass-production line for CPI film specifically for foldable devices.
Lens Technology will supply the ultra-thin glass and handle bonding the protective film to it. The entire supply chain is betting that Apple’s approach will become the new standard.
The report also mentions a 7.8-inch crease-free display, which would be remarkable if they can actually deliver it. Current foldables have improved, but you still feel that line running down the middle every time you use the device.
Apple’s foldable is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro later this year. If they’ve genuinely solved the durability problem by simply choosing better materials, it will make Samsung’s five-year head start look much less impressive.
