Key Points
- Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 display is rated to withstand 500,000 folds. This is more than double the capacity of the previous models.
- The company states that this could translate to over 10 years of use for the average person.
- The new screen is stronger due to thicker glass, a special adhesive, and a titanium support plate.
- Despite being more durable, the new display is also thinner, making the phone feel more like a regular handset.
Samsung says its new Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a screen that’s more than twice as durable as previous models. The company claims that the new foldable OLED panel can be folded 500,000 times without breaking, a significant improvement over the 200,000-fold rating of its predecessors.
The new display underwent a 13-day durability test conducted by the certification company Bureau Veritas. Samsung claims that this means a user can fold their phone 100 times a day without compromising the screen’s lifespan, which could last over 10 years. “Durability is no longer a limiting factor in the lifespan of foldable smartphones,” the company said in its announcement.
To achieve this, Samsung took inspiration from bulletproof glass. They created a new shock-proof design by making the outermost glass layer 50% thicker and using a special high-elastic adhesive between all the layers to absorb impact better.
The new display also features a titanium plate for added support, making the entire structure significantly stronger. Despite these reinforcements, Samsung was also able to make the display thinner, so the device looks and feels more like a regular smartphone.
This represents a significant improvement, particularly in light of the real-world performance of earlier models. When CNET tested the very first Galaxy Z Fold with a folding machine, it only lasted about 120,000 folds—far short of its 200,000-fold rating. If the new Z Fold 7 can get anywhere close to its 500,000-fold claim, users won’t have to worry about their screens giving out before it’s time for an upgrade.
