Last week Patently Apple posted an IP report titled "Apple invents Deformation-Resistant Displays for Possible Future Foldable iPhones and/or iPads." The notion of a foldable iPad that could double as a "laptop" was revealed in a Patently Apple report posted in March 2021.

A new report posted by The Elec this morning states that "Samsung Display was considering both ultra-thin glass (UTG) and transparent polyimide (PI) film to use as cover windows for foldable OLED panels aimed at foldable tablets and notebooks.

The company currently uses UTG for foldable OLED panels it manufactures for smartphones such as the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series. But it was considering PI films for larger devices as if the panels get larger durability becomes more of an issue, sources said.

UTG has an advantage in visibility but it is more vulnerable to external shocks than PI films.

Foldable phones currently have screen sizes of 7 to 8 inches but those for tablets and notebooks are 10 to 20 inches. Why does this even matter? Because The Elec report states that the final size of these displays for foldable tablets … "will also depend on the choice by Apple, which is expected to lead the foldable tablet and notebook sector once it launches its own product, owing to its brand power.

Besides Apple patents, there hasn't been any credible rumor of a foldable iPad. So is this pure speculation on the part of The Elec or is this particular position coming from their supply chain sources? Only time will tell.