Apple reportedly developing a foldable iPhone with a self-healing screen
- Apple is reportedly working on a foldable iPhone
- It filed a patent showcasing a self-healing screen
- The foldable iPhone’s screen might be able to ‘heal’ minor scratches
Published on May 28, 2024 at 1:24 PM (UTC+4)
by Siddharth Dudeja
Last updated on May 28, 2024 at 6:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Foldable phones have been around for a while now, and Apple still hasn’t talked about a foldable iPhone — yet — but reports suggest that it will come and feature a self-healing screen.
You heard that right — the tech giant doesn’t normally add new tech to the iPhone as soon as it’s out and about.
That’s why we don’t have a foldable iPhone, despite every other major brand having one.
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If the rumors are true, Apple’s foldable smartphone, whenever it comes, will come in with a bang.
So, what’s the basis of these rumors?
The smartphone maker recently filed a patent that suggests a self-healing screen.
For context, the screen could ‘heal’ itself from any minor scratches and dents.
As unusual as it may seem, we might just get to see it.
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The patent, dubbed ‘Electronic Devices with Flexible Display Cover Layers,’ shows the components of a foldable display.
It details that a foldable screen consists of three key parts — two separate displays and a flexible layer that connects them.
Now, the patent only mentions a screen, which could be anything from a smartphone or monitor to a watch.
But let’s be real here — the only foldable that Apple might launch is an iPhone, surely?
And most likely, even if a self-healing screen makes it to these smartphones, we surely won’t see it on the upcoming iPhone 16.
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“Self-healing may occur in the layer of self-healing material without prompting (e.g., when the self-healing coating is dented, the material of the coating may fill the dent even without external intervention).
“Alternatively, the self-healing may be initiated or expedited by externally applied heat, light, electric current, or other type of external stimulus,” the patent’s filing notes read.
If it becomes a reality, the self-healing would occur during charging or at a pre-determined schedule.
It’s not the first time we have seen self-healing tech on a smartphone, because some of them featured similar features back in the day.
The key difference is that it’s the first time this technology might make it to a smartphone’s screen.
However, it’s important to remember that it’s just a patent, for now.
Whether it makes it to Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone or not, will undoubtedly be interesting to witness.
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