Overview
- Supply‑chain reporting from The Elec says Apple has not finalized whether the iPhone Fold’s outer protective layer will be transparent polyimide (CPI/PI) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- CPI is described by industry sources as more scratch‑resistant and harder than PET, though it costs more and would mark a different approach from Samsung’s current PET‑topped foldables.
- Lens Technology is expected to supply the ultra‑thin glass and handle bonding of the chosen film, with Kolon Industries named as a likely CPI supplier if Apple selects that material.
- The choice is characterized as late in the usual screen‑spec timeline, but expected lower initial volumes for a high‑priced first‑generation model could give Apple some production flexibility.
- Reports frame the iPhone Fold as a premium device rumored for a 2026 launch alongside iPhone 18 Pro models, with display sizes and crease‑handling still unconfirmed.