Will the iPhone Ultra avoid the issue that can still kill Samsung foldables?

In 2019, the first Samsung Galaxy Fold was plagued by an issue that could lead to screen damage due to dust and dirt ingress, prompting the company to cancel all pre-orders. Despite eight generations later, this issue has yet to be resolved, raising concerns about Apple's upcoming iPhone Ultra folding phone. Apple has reportedly waited more than seven years for its own folding phone and there are two key reasons behind this delay.

Firstly, the company was unhappy with the visible crease when the device was unfolded, a problem that required the involvement of Apple's engineers working with Samsung to address. Secondly, concerns about the hinge mechanism's robustness have been a significant hurdle. However, these issues seem to have been resolved, with the Fold 8 reportedly having a better hinge mechanism.

The crease in the Fold 8 appears to be minimal, according to reports from 9to5Google. The main concern now is the hinge mechanism's ability to withstand repeated folding and unfolding, as well as its resistance to dust and dirt ingress. The IP rating, which measures a device's protection against dust and dirt, is crucial here. The Galaxy Fold 8 scores a mere 4 on the IP scale, indicating no protection against particles smaller than 1mm.

Apple's previous iPhone Pro models have scored up to 6 on this scale, meaning they are completely dustproof. So, it will be interesting to see if the iPhone Ultra has an IP rating of at least 5, ideally 6, to avoid the same vulnerability that plagued the first-generation Galaxy Fold. The answer will likely be known soon after the iPhone Ultra is launched next month, with Apple likely to announce the IP rating during the keynote presentation.