Samsung is finally fixing the Galaxy Fold's biggest flaw
The Galaxy Z Fold Wide could bring significant improvements to the crease.
There's no crease on this render, and a new leak suggests this could be the case. | Image by IceUniverse
Samsung could finally fix the crease on the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold Wide. The potential crease-free design will be made possible by using a different and thicker Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG). The report is coming from South Korean media ZDNet.
30% thicker Ultra-Thin Glass on the Galaxy Z Fold Wide
From left to right: Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold Wide. | Image by Ice Universe
According to ZDNet Korea, the glass that covers the flexible AMOLED main screen of the Galaxy Z Fold Wide will measure around 60 μm in thickness, while the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 will sport a 45 μm Ultra-Thin Glass on top.
That's roughly 30% thicker in favor of the Galaxy Z Fold Wide and should not only help hide the crease but also make the Z Fold Wide more durable.
However, there's a negative effect that stems from making the cover glass thicker on a foldable. The glass becomes more fragile in a folded state, so the Galaxy Z Fold Wide may be a tad more prone to screen shattering when folded.
That's roughly 30% thicker in favor of the Galaxy Z Fold Wide and should not only help hide the crease but also make the Z Fold Wide more durable.
However, there's a negative effect that stems from making the cover glass thicker on a foldable. The glass becomes more fragile in a folded state, so the Galaxy Z Fold Wide may be a tad more prone to screen shattering when folded.
The Galaxy Z Fold 9 could also sport thicker 60 μm Ultra-Thin Glass
The Galaxy Z Fold Wide was spotted in the wild last week. | Image by dcinside
ZDNet Korea cites industry insiders sayin this new and thicker cover glass on the Z Fold Wide is just a testbed for wider switch. According to the media, if the reception is positive and there's no a huge pile of Z Fold Wide phones with broken screens, the next generation could all sport this new and thicker 60 μm Ultra-Thin Glass.
Meaning, we could finally see a creaseless Galaxy Z Flip 9 and Galaxy Z Fold 9 next year.
Samsung Electronics may apply UTG with a thickness of around 60μm to this year's Wide Fold, and then apply UTG of around 60μm to the Galaxy Z Fold 9 to be released next year. (translated from Korean)
ZDNet Korea, 25/6/12
The crease has been a major downside in foldable devices ever since their inception back in 2019. Now, seven years later, companies are finally finding ways to make the area where the flexible screen folds less visible.
How important is the crease (or the lack thereof) in a foldable?
A crease-less Galaxy Fold could be a game-changer
Most foldables don't have creases on promo materials and renders. | Image by IceUniverse
Getting rid of the crease might be a game-changer for Samsung, as the company has been criticized for no doing enough in that particular area. Other foldable brands, especially from the Far East, have made significant progress in removing the crease, or at least making it less pronounced.
The Oppo Find N6, for example, sports a special anti-glare layer that makes the crease less noticeable, and the Honor Magic V6 features a new zero-crease flexible display by BOE. We did a review and the crease is still there, it's not completely gone, but it's much harder to see.
You can't beat physics
Caption with punctuation goes here. | Image by Credit without punctuation goes here
Sadly, there are rules of physics we can't bend (pun intended), and making glass that's flexible and durable at the same time is one such impossible task. In order for a material to be flexible it requires certain compromises with rigidity.
That's why flexible displays on foldables are so easy to scratch and damage. But if you make the screen, or the glass covering it, too rigid, it becomes brittle and might crack. There are certain tricks you can employ, such as changing the temperature (Apple filed a patent for this not long ago), or running a current through a specific material to make it more flexible or more rigid.
But ultimately, if you want a tough screen with no crease, your best bet is a non-folding candy bar phone. Nevertheless, it's good to see Samsung catching up with its Far East rivals.
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