[News] Samsung, Apple Reportedly Eye Stronger Foldable Displays with Etched Ultra-Thin Glass by 2028

What happened

Samsung and Apple are reportedly working with suppliers on a new ultra-thin glass (UTG) design featuring a thinner etched center and thicker non-folding sections, targeting potential adoption in 2028. The design aims to improve surface hardness while maintaining flexibility. The companies are reportedly considering UTG with a central folding area approximately 40 micrometers (μm) thick and non-folding sections exceeding 100μm. For now, both companies use flat UTG with uniform thickness in their 2026 foldable smartphones, with the same design expected to continue in 2027. Samsung’s current lineup features 45μm UTG for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (book-style), 60μm for the Z Fold8 (passport-style), and 50μm for the Z Flip8 (clamshell-style); Apple’s iPhone Duo uses a 45μm UTG cover window. Commercialization still presents challenges: manufacturers must fill the etched central section with a suitable material while ensuring its optical properties match those of the surrounding glass, preventing visible differences across the display. An industry source expects Samsung and Apple to make a final decision on whether to adopt the technology in their 2028 foldable phones in the fourth quarter of 2027. Regarding UTG beneath the display, Apple’s iPhone Duo uses two UTG layers: an upper layer serving as the cover window above the OLED panel, and a 40μm lower layer beneath the panel to reduce display creases; Samsung currently uses UTG only for the upper cover window, with titanium in the area corresponding to Apple’s lower UTG layer, and is also developing UTG technology for use beneath the OLED panel. On the supply chain front, China’s Lens Technology is a major UTG supplier for Apple’s iPhone Duo; Apple remains dependent on Samsung Display for its foldable OLED panels, with Samsung Display the exclusive panel supplier for the iPhone Duo.

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Source: TrendForce · 11/5/2026 · View original source