The foldable iPhone Ultra model, which Apple is expected to introduce next month, may provide a stronger solution to the screen problem caused by dust and dirt, which has been ongoing since the first examples of foldable phones. The first Galaxy Fold, which Samsung was preparing to offer for sale in 2019, had serious durability problems due to foreign substances getting between the hinge and the screen, and the company had to cancel pre-orders and change the design of the device. Even though eight generations have passed, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 review conducted by iFixit shows that similar risks have not completely disappeared. It is claimed that Apple worked for a long time, especially on screen curve and hinge durability, while preparing its own foldable phone. For this reason, the IP rating of the iPhone Ultra to be announced will be one of the most striking details among the technical features of the device in terms of understanding to what extent Apple has found a solution to the problem in question.
Galaxy Z Fold 8’s IP48 certification shows that although the device provides a certain level of protection against water, it does not provide the same assurance against small solid particles. The first number in the IP rating indicates protection against solids, and the level 4 received by the Fold 8 does not mean full protection against particles smaller than 1 millimeter. In iFixit’s disassembly and durability review, it was determined that dust and sand could reach the hinge mechanism. It was stated that after the phone was opened and closed repeatedly, distinct crushing and rubbing sounds were heard from the hinge, and the device began to not turn on normally. The fact that the hinge is a difficult component to both repair and replace indicates that small particles reaching the internal mechanism over time may pose a risk to the user, which may extend to the replacement of the screen or hinge.
IP rating will be decisive for iPhone Ultra
It is claimed that there are two technical issues behind Apple’s more than seven-year wait for the foldable iPhone. The first of these was the fold mark that could be seen in the middle section when the foldable screen was fully opened. It is stated that Apple included its own engineers in the screen development work carried out with Samsung in order to reduce this trace to an acceptable level. While it is estimated that the screen used by Samsung in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 also uses similar technology, according to 9to5Google’s evaluation, the fold mark on the new model is now quite difficult to notice. Therefore, while there are strong signs that the problem on the screen side may be largely under control, the real question mark for the iPhone Ultra remains the durability of the hinge mechanism over years of use and the protection it will provide against foreign objects.
It is stated that the second issue that Apple focuses on is the durability of the hinge design proposed by Samsung, and it is claimed that this problem was only completely resolved in June. It is not easy to determine with short-term inspections how a hinge will behave after thousands of opening and closing movements. Despite this, the IP rating of the device will at least provide a concrete indication at launch about the possibility of dust and small particles reaching the interior. In the IP standard, protection against solids is rated from zero to six; Level 6 indicates that the device is fully protected against dust ingress. Therefore, reaching an IP rating with the first digit of 5 for the iPhone Ultra will provide higher protection than the Fold 8, and reaching a level of 6 will place it in the highest possible class in terms of dust resistance.
The level Apple has achieved in existing traditional iPhone models also reveals the engineering difference the company faces for the foldable model. For example, the iPhone 17 Pro is listed with IP68 certification, and the number 6 here indicates the highest level of protection against dust. However, due to a movable hinge and folding screen structure, providing the same protection on a foldable phone requires a much more complex design. If the iPhone Ultra’s IP rating starts with 6, Apple will have overcome the small particle risk that persists in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, at least at the certification level; However, independent testing and user experiences will be required to see long-term durability in real-life use conditions. The technical specifications to be published after Apple’s launch next month will provide the first clear answer on this issue and will make it possible to evaluate how effective the iPhone Ultra offers a solution to the long-standing dust-related weakness of foldable phones.
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