Smartphone screens will 'self-repair' when scratched

According to analyst firm CCS Insight, smartphones with self-repairing screens could start appearing on the market as early as 2028. The basic principle of this feature is that the manufacturer will create a “nano-coating” on the screen surface, which, if scratched, will create a new material that reacts when exposed to air and fills in the scratched spots.

CCS Insight experts say that this self-repairing feature is no longer a science fiction but a reality. Mobile phone manufacturers around the world have also mentioned self-repairing smartphone screen technology for several years now.

Accordingly, the Korean consumer electronics giant LG has introduced self-repairing technology on its smartphones since 2013. The company released a smartphone called G Flex, which is the first phone to have a vertically curved design, the back of the G Flex is covered with a layer that can self-heal when scratched or damaged.

Although LG advertises the G Flex as being able to repair scratches on its back, the company has yet to explain how the smartphone does this.

“There are some new technologies that people are working on now that look like they could become something that people could use,” said Ben Wood, head of research at CCS Insight. “We’re not talking about a broken screen coming back to normal, we’re talking about minor cosmetic scratches.”

Several other phone makers have introduced self-healing materials in smartphones. In 2017, Motorola filed a patent for a display made from a “shape memory polymer” material that would repair itself when cracked. The idea is that when heat is applied to the material, it will heal the cracks.

Meanwhile, Apple has also previously received a patent for a folding iPhone with a display cover that can repair itself when damaged.

However, these self-repairing display technologies have yet to be found in a commercial smartphone on the market. Technology experts say there are still a number of barriers to rolling out such phones on a large scale.

For example, mobile phone manufacturers need to invest heavily in research and development to ensure they can identify new innovations in smartphone displays, and they need to objectively and accurately inform consumers about the extent to which phone failures can be fixed without any manual intervention.

Phone makers are getting more and more creative when it comes to display technology. At this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ​​Motorola unveiled a rollable smartphone that expands vertically when pushed upwards.

Samsung has come a long way in its journey towards commercial smartphones with more advanced displays, with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 foldable phones now capable of folding hundreds of thousands of times over their lifetime.

Apple takes control of the used smartphone market

CCS Insight also predicts that Apple will look to gain more direct control over the second-hand smartphone market to avoid the growing popularity of older devices undermining new iPhone sales.

Meanwhile, according to a report by global technology market research group Counterpoint Research, Apple's iPhone continued to dominate the used smartphone market with a 75% share in the first quarter of 2023. Samsung ranked second with a 12% share, followed by Xiaomi with a 4% share and other manufacturers accounting for the remaining 9% market share.

The popularity of used smartphones is increasing because it is an economical and environmentally friendly option. Users can save a significant amount of money by purchasing a used smartphone instead of buying a new one. In addition, reusing used smartphones also helps reduce the amount of electronic waste and protect the environment.

The success of the iPhone in the used smartphone market is also a result of Apple's trade policy. Apple allows dealers and retailers to resell used products at a better price than the retail price. This saves customers a significant amount of money and helps Apple retain its customers.

Phan Van Hoa (According to CNBC, AppleInsider)