Apple may be developing a foldable iPhone with a ‘self-healing’ screen.

Flip phones are making a comeback, and Apple could join the trend.

The tech company recently received a patent for its own version of a foldable electronics device, Gizmodo reports. Of course, because Apple likes to up the ante, the potential new iPhone will feature a high-tech hinge and what it calls a “self-healing display.”

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According to the patent, the self-healing coating would be used “to reduce dents, scratches, or other imperfections” — a common problem among foldable devices. What’s even cooler is that “it can fill a dent even without external intervention.” So imagine something similar to your favorite self-repairing superhero. However, in some cases, repairs can be “initiated or accelerated” by applying a heat source such as lights or electricity, according to the brand.

While a foldable iPhone would be a first for Apple, other cellphone makers have already experimented with self-healing materials. When LG released its curved smartphone in 2013, the G Flex, the device had a special coating on the back cover. At the time, the phone, the brand claimed, was supposed to repair its own scratches à la Wolverine.

In terms of competition, Apple would potentially face the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 if a foldable iPhone were to hit the market. Additionally, in 2023, Motorola will re-launch the Razr, a foldable smartphone that originally debuted in 2004. Also available is the Pixel Fold, Google’s first-ever foldable Android smartphone.

Earlier this year, there were also reports of two foldable iPhone prototypes and perhaps even a foldable iPad. The clamshell-like devices would bend lengthwise and unfold at 90 degrees.

The biggest issue with foldable phones or tablets, however, is durability. These devices are much more delicate and tend to break easily. Glass displays are super thin and fragile, even with a screen protector. Hinges can squeak when the phone is opened or closed. Additionally, bezels can scratch easily.

While there is no confirmed timeline for the potential release of the foldable iPhone, some reports suggest that it could supposedly arrive in 2026. There is also speculation that a foldable MacBook may come first. The big-screen device would have an impressive 20-inch display and could begin production as early as late 2025 — allegedly. Be cautious.

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