Foldable iPhone could feature self-healing screen

Apple has been researching and developing foldable screen technology for many years and on May 21, the company was approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an application for "Electronic device with flexible protective layer".

As described in the patent, the electronic device would be equipped with a screen that self-heals when scratches or dents appear, along with a hinge shaft that allows the screen to bend around it without being damaged.

Apple also has a different approach as the screen will have three parts, including two fixed regular screens and a flexible screen that connects the two parts together.

The screen uses a flexible protective layer instead of the ultra-thin glass found on today's foldable phones. This layer contains an elastic material that is designed to return to its original shape, similar to the protective film that can remove scratches on cars. Users can schedule the screen to self-heal or when the device is plugged in to charge.

Self-healing screen technology, in addition to equipping the foldable iPhone, can appear on other Apple devices from laptops to smartwatches.

Apple is reportedly testing two foldable iPhone prototypes with 7.9- and 8.3-inch internal screens that open and close like a book instead of a clamshell. Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu said Apple is expected to launch a MacBook with a 20.3-inch foldable screen first in 2025, followed by the first foldable iPhone in 2026.