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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1299064
2. Why is Apple Investing in This? Two words: Foldable iPhone. We saw a few foldable phones released last year but to no great acclaim. They were expensive, didn't work all that well, and it was too easy to damage the screen. Apple had its own plans for a foldable phone, but has kept them quiet while working to see if it's really possible on a consumer-friendly level – and this self-healing technology is an important part of that! The flexible screens that foldable phones have used thus far s till seem prone to damage along the creased edge through frequent use. Plus, foldable phones are designed to be clasped together when you put them away. As Apple notes, this is a great way to trap dust and dirt bet ween the two screen panels by accident and grind them together to cause significant screen damage over time. This self- healing screen material would render those issues moot and make a foldable iPhone much more viable. 1. Will Regular iPhones Become Self-Healing? It's much too early to say. Right now, the patent is only for a potential foldable phone, based on the descriptions of the technology. It's also important to remember that many patents are filed just in case, and never actually result in features that come to real-world products. But if Apple can perfect a self-healing layer that doesn't interfere with iPhone quality, there's no reason not to bring it to standard models, too.