Imagine a foldable phone that unfolds as smoothly as a piece of paper, with no visible crease marring its sleek display. That's the dream Samsung has been chasing for years, and it seems they're finally getting close. But here's where it gets controversial: their solution might involve doubling down on ultra-thin glass, a material already present in their current foldables. Could this be the key to a truly crease-less future, or is it a risky gamble? **
At CES 2026, Samsung briefly unveiled a new foldable display technology dubbed 'Advanced Crease-less.' While the demo was fleeting, it left a lasting impression, showcasing a dramatic reduction in the display crease compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Rumors suggest this technology could debut as early as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, or even find its way into Apple's rumored foldable iPhone. But how did Samsung achieve this breakthrough?
And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about the display itself. Leaks suggest Samsung is employing a clever technique involving a perforated backplate. By introducing tiny holes, the backplate gains flexibility, allowing it to distribute the stress of folding evenly across the display, rather than concentrating it at the center like current designs. This 'weakening' of the backplate is a counterintuitive approach that seems to yield impressive results.
A Korean publication, Dealsite, adds another layer to the story (pun intended). They claim Samsung will utilize a laser drilling process to create these perforations, further dispersing stress. But the real surprise is the potential inclusion of a second layer of ultra-thin glass (UTG) on top of the backplate. This additional layer could act as a further safeguard against display 'wrinkles,' building upon the success of the single UTG layer currently used in devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
While it's unclear if this dual-UTG setup was part of the CES demo, it presents an intriguing possibility. The initial introduction of UTG significantly improved display uniformity compared to the first generation of Samsung foldables. Therefore, a second layer could logically lead to even greater advancements in crease reduction and overall display quality.
This raises some thought-provoking questions: Is doubling down on UTG the ultimate solution for crease-less displays, or are there potential drawbacks to this approach? Could this technology pave the way for more durable and versatile foldable devices in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
More Samsung News:
- Samsung’s ‘Home Up’ receives a major feature upgrade in One UI 8.5. (https://9to5google.com/2026/01/19/one-ui-8-5-home-up-update/)
- Galaxy S25 series defies expectations with skyrocketing sales months after launch. (https://9to5google.com/2026/01/14/samsung-galaxy-s25-series-sales-jump/)
- Leaked Samsung promo material hints at the absence of a Galaxy S26 Edge. (https://9to5google.com/2026/01/16/galaxy-s26-edge-left-out-of-samsung-promo/)
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