There’s no shortage of foldable phones in the market. Samsung, Huawei, Moto, and Oppo have mastered the art of making foldable phones. Apple is, again, very late to jump on the foldable bandwagon, so how does it plan its upcoming—or rumored—foldable? Well, Apple may be taking a bold step in the foldable race by incorporating Liquidmetal tech into the hinge of its upcoming foldable iPhone.
Apple reportedly plans Liquidmetal for minimum crease, maximum durability on foldable iPhone
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to use Liquidmetal—a type of advanced alloy—to enhance durability, ensure a flatter screen, and minimize creasing on the foldable iPhone. These are some of the most important factors when it comes to the longevity of foldable displays. Apple has reportedly chosen Dongguan EonTec as its exclusive supplier for this material, Kuo notes (via Android Authority).
Actually, Liquidmetal isn’t new to Apple. The company has previously used it in smaller components, such as SIM ejector pins. So, if Apple really uses Liquidmetal in the making of its foldable iPhone, it could mark a new industry standard. Kuo suggests that major Android brands, including Samsung, may follow suit to stay competitive in the foldable space. For what it’s worth, Samsung remains the top foldable shipper globally. And if it uses such technology in its flagships, that would likely result in greater longevity—one of the most important factors in foldable phones, I repeat.
That said, Apple’s debut foldable iPhone could feature a 7.8-inch display when unfolded, with a 5.5-inch cover display, according to Jeff Pu and Kuo. That’s relatively smaller than some of the best flagships in the market right now. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition features an 8-inch main display and a 6.5-inch cover screen. The stakes are even higher for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is tipped to feature an 8.2-inch main display and a 6.5-inch cover display. Sure, Apple’s debut foldable would be easily defeated in terms of screen size if the leaks come true. Still, however, other brands should follow Apple on Liquidmetal if it proves to be efficient.
