GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
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TL;DR Google could adopt the iPhone Ultra’s dual UTG structure for the Pixel 12 Pro Fold, according to a new report.
This structure reduces the display crease, suggesting that the Pixel 12 Pro Fold could have a less prominent crease or none at all.
OPPO and vivo are also apparently planning to adopt this structure for their own next-generation foldable phones.
The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold launched last month, and it has a reduced display crease compared to previous Pixel foldables. However, it sounds like the Pixel 12 Pro Fold could take a page from the iPhone Ultra‘s playbook in this regard.
The Elec reports that Google, OPPO, and vivo will all adopt dual ultra-thin glass (UTG) structures for the inner screen on their next-generation foldables, citing industry sources. The outlet reports that Apple’s foldable iPhone, expected to debut next week, will be the first foldable phone with this structure.
So what exactly is a dual UTG structure? This sees a layer of ultra-thin glass placed below the OLED panel, while another UTG layer is placed above it to act as a “cover window.” This approach purportedly helps reduce the display crease and deformation due to repeated folds over time. This solution also apparently enables “more precise control” of the panel’s rigidity and fold-related stress.
By contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 range uses a Flex Titanium structure that replaces the lower UTG layer with a titanium alloy film and a titanium plate. Samsung says this approach also reduces the display crease compared to its previous solution.
For what it’s worth, colleague Paul Jones noted in his hands-on video that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold seems to quickly develop a prominent crease. On the other hand, Paul praised the OPPO Find N6 for its zero-feel crease. He noted that he could still see the crease at extreme angles, but that he couldn’t actually feel it. So we’re keen to see if Apple’s approach yields significantly better results than Google and OPPO’s latest devices, because this could be good news for the Pixel 12 Pro Fold, vivo X Fold 7, and OPPO Find N7.
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