Pixel 12 Pro Fold and other Android foldables are already planning to copy one iPhone Ultra feature

The first foldable iPhone is only a week from being officially announced during Apple’s Surprise and Shine event, but it already seems to have an impact. Even before its premiere, Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in a similar shape, and now other manufacturers seem to be trying to get their hands on the display tech used in it.

Several Android manufacturers may adopt the dual-UTG design of the iPhone Ultra

Devices like the Pixel 12 Pro Fold may end up using the same display technology Apple will utilize in the upcoming iPhone Ultra. According to a report by Korean publication The Elec, Google, Oppo, and Vivo all plan to adopt the dual ultra-thin glass (UTG) display, which will be first used by Apple.

While the technology may premiere with the foldable iPhone, dual UTG OLED panels are made by Samsung Display. Industry sources said that the Korean company is already producing prototypes tailored to specifications from Google, Oppo and Vivo.

Mass production of the displays is expected to start next year for each of the manufacturers’ new product releases.

See more foldables news:

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How is the iPhone Ultra display different from other foldables?

The dual UTG technology uses one sheet of ultra-thin glass above and another below the OLED panel in a display. The one on top is only tens of micrometers thick, and it protects the screen from scratches and other damage.

Then there’s the lower UTG, which supports the OLED panel from below and dissipates the stress from around the hinge when the display is folded and unfolded. The physical properties help of the two layers help reduce the crease in the center of the display and the deformation from repeated opening and closing.



Unlike the dual UTG structure used in the iPhone Ultra, Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra use a single UTG layer above the OLED and a titanium alloy and reinforced plate beneath it. Practically, the titanium structure is used instead of the lower UTG layer, which is said to improve yields and reduce costs.

We’re yet to see Apple’s foldable, but Samsung has already achieved really good results with its titanium structure. In his in-depth review of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, my colleague Victor said the crease has practically disappeared and it never feels like a distraction.

When are Android foldables with the new display technology coming out?

The first Android foldable with a dual UTG display will most likely be the Oppo Find N7. The company is expected to launch the successor to the Find N6 sometime in the first quarter of 2027, while the Vivo X Fold 7 is expected in the first half of next year.

However, Android fans stateside may need to wait much longer as the Pixel 12 Pro Fold isn’t expected to launch before the second half of next year, most likely in August.

Durability could be the key concern

As much as shallower creases are a key selling point for newer foldables, I’d be much more concerned about the durability of the display. I’d much rather a crease than a damaged display on a $2,000 device only a year after buying it.

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