Apple Is One Step Closer To Making Foldable Displays

There’s more to the subject than what Kuo reports, and the extra information comes from TheElec. According to the publication, Apple has begun the development of an OLED panel without a polarizer, which would be a great step toward producing foldable screens. Removing the polarizer allows for the manufacturing of screens that are thinner, and as a result, more optimal for folding purposes. TheElec cites anonymous sources with these claims, but considering the various rumors that imply Apple may be working on a foldable, this adds up quite neatly.

Using a polarizer in a screen panel has its pros and cons. In terms of pros, screens with polarizers typically have better visibility than those without. This comes in handy when you use your screen outside and you’re dealing with sunlight — many smartphones and tablets can’t quite keep up with ultra-bright surroundings, leaving you to squint and try to find some shade. On the other hand, polarizers also decrease the maximum brightness of a display. As TheElec points out, one common manufacturer workaround is to increase device power consumption. However, you can only push the power limits so far until it’s excessive.