Pixel 12 Pro Fold Could Follow Apple With a Crease-Less Display

Foldable phones have come a long way, but one design issue continues to divide users: the crease. While manufacturers have steadily made folding displays thinner and less noticeable, some of the newest devices are finally pushing toward screens that look almost flat when opened. Google could be next in line, with a new report suggesting the Pixel 12 Pro Fold may adopt the same display technology expected to debut on Apple’s first foldable iPhone.

The timing is interesting because Google’s current Pixel 11 Pro Fold is already facing tougher competition from manufacturers that have made significant progress with crease reduction. If the latest report is accurate, Google appears ready to close that gap with its next-generation foldable.

Pixel 12 Pro Fold May Get a Major Display Upgrade

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a capable foldable, but its display crease makes it look less advanced beside newer rivals from Oppo, Honor, and Samsung. Those companies have increasingly focused on making the folding area less visible, turning the crease from an unavoidable characteristic into something that can be minimized.

According to a report from The Elec, Google, Oppo, and Vivo are working with Samsung Display on a new approach that uses dual ultra-thin glass (UTG) construction. The technology is reportedly also planned for Apple’s first foldable iPhone.

The concept involves placing one UTG layer above the OLED panel and another underneath it. The additional structure is designed to provide greater support while helping create a smoother surface across the folding area.

How Dual UTG Technology Could Reduce the Crease

A foldable display has to withstand thousands of bends while remaining thin enough to fold comfortably. That makes the area around the hinge particularly challenging because repeated folding can create visible changes in the screen surface.

The reported dual-UTG design gives manufacturers another way to reinforce the OLED panel while managing the stresses created by folding. Samsung Display would reportedly customize the display and UTG assembly according to the requirements of each smartphone maker.

The approach is particularly notable because Apple is also rumored to be pursuing similar technology for its first foldable iPhone. If Google adopts it for the Pixel 12 Pro Fold, several major manufacturers could end up moving toward a similar solution at roughly the same time.

Samsung and Oppo Are Taking Different Routes

Not every manufacturer is approaching the crease in exactly the same way. Samsung reportedly uses a titanium plate beneath the OLED panel to provide additional structural support and help minimize the visible fold.

Oppo has taken another approach. The company has discussed using liquid 3D printing to fill the area around the crease and create a more even surface, combined with thicker glass.

These different solutions highlight just how difficult the engineering challenge is. A foldable display has to balance durability, flexibility, thickness, and appearance, and improving one area can create compromises elsewhere.

Google Has Some Catching Up to Do

For Google, improving the Pixel foldable's display could be particularly important. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold arrived at a time when competing foldables were becoming increasingly refined, making it harder for Google to stand out purely through software and camera capabilities.

A significantly flatter inner screen on the Pixel 12 Pro Fold would address one of the most obvious visual differences between Google's foldable and some of its rivals. It could also make the device feel more like a conventional tablet when fully opened.

For anyone considering a future foldable, the display experience matters just as much as the processor or camera. Once you start storing more photos, videos, documents, and other content on a foldable, managing that information across devices becomes part of the ownership experience too.

If you eventually decide to switch phones, a free phone cleaner for iPhone can help remove unnecessary files before you begin the move. Cleaning out duplicate photos and other clutter first means there is less to carry over when you transfer my data to a new device. Tools such as Smart Transfer can also make it easier to copy my data between compatible devices, giving you a cleaner starting point on your new phone.

When Could the Pixel 12 Pro Fold Arrive?

The reported roadmap suggests that Oppo and Vivo could introduce their next-generation foldables during the first half of 2027. Google's Pixel 12 Pro Fold is expected later in the year, potentially around August if Google follows its established launch pattern.

That would give Google plenty of time to refine the technology before the next Pixel foldable arrives. More importantly, it could put the Pixel 12 Pro Fold in a much stronger position against competitors that have already made crease reduction a major part of their foldable strategy.

For now, the dual-UTG information remains based on a report rather than an official Google announcement. But if the technology does make its way into the Pixel 12 Pro Fold, the next generation could represent a meaningful visual upgrade rather than another incremental foldable refresh.

The crease may never disappear completely from every foldable, but the direction of the industry is becoming clear. The goal is no longer simply to make folding screens work. Manufacturers now want them to look and feel increasingly like regular premium displays when the phone is open.