Everybody thought that Samsung and Huawei would dominate the foldable gadgets market and that both brands will make a splash this year. However, both companies made a splash for all the wrong reasons, and now it seems Apple has all the momentum to come out with a better option.

Early this year, Samsung’s Galaxy Fold faced some not-so-flattering reviews as demo phones loaned to analysts and the media started breaking down. Galaxy Fold units reportedly showed immediate damage to the fold when users removed what they thought was simply a protective strip. Now the Korean tech firm is set to delay the launch of its foldable smartphone sometime next month.

Huawei, on the other hand, is seriously being affected by the current U.S. vs. China trade war. The pullout of Google’s Android license is definitely a big blow to the company’s future smartphone offerings and could seriously undermine people’s decision to buy its Huawei Mate X.

Amidst the chaos being faced by both companies, Apple is starting to look really good in the foldable gadget war. The Cupertino giant was lauded for taking its time to come out with its own foldable smartphone so it can release a variant that basically addresses possible problems that could be faced by the two leading brands’ devices.

Now news of what Apple’s foldable device, unofficially dubbed the iPhone X Fold, claims something truly exciting that can definitely place the California company in the lead. According to BGR, a new patent of Apple is focusing on making a foldable glass sheet that aims to protect the Apple gadget's screen. This is interestingly one aspect that Samsung and Huawei have failed to address. Samsung, in particular, seems to be affected by this neglect, so this is an avenue where Apple can truly shine.

The patent is actively looking for ways to create a sturdy and flexible cover sheet and lists materials such as ceramic materials, chemically strengthened glass, sapphire and zirconia. The BGR report said that it's interesting how the Cupertino company is focusing on glass or ceramic materials and don't even entertain others said to have been used in Samsung and Huawei's foldable gadgets.

This direction is just part of the major plans geared toward Apple's foldable smartphone. According to CNET, the U.S. Patent and Trademark issued a new patent to Apple that’s described as a "foldable cover and display for an electronic device."

Now there is no clear news on what the electronic device could be, whether it’s for the iPhone or iPad, but what’s interesting to note is that the foldable cover is seen to be capable of folding multiple ways.

The patent showcases a display cover that’s described to have a handful of configurations so it’s exciting to speculate how it can be applied on Apple’s foldable gadget. Early this year, Apple also submitted an updated 2011 patent for a clamshell phone, so this is one direction to explore what the company’s future plans could be.

The iPhone X Fold, however, is not expected to be released anytime soon and might actually need a few more years before it gets introduced to the general public.

iphone x screen
An Apple iPhone X smartphone is seen at Apple's Regent Street store in central London on November 3, 2017 after it opened for the first sales of the new smartphone. - Apple's flagship iPhone X hit stores on November 3, as the world's most valuable company predicted bumper sales despite the handset's eye-watering price tag and celebrated a surge in profits. The device features facial recognition, cordless charging and an edge-to-edge screen made of organic light-emitting diodes used in high-end televisions. It marks the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone release and is released in about 50 markets around the world. AFP/Getty Images/Chris J Ratcliffe
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