Samsung Display Unveils Foldable OLED Panel with World’s Smallest Curvature

Samsung Display announced today that it is the first in the industry to successfully commercialize a foldable display panel having a 1.4R rating* for its curvature, representing the smallest degree of curving among commercialized foldable smartphones to date ― an advancement first applied to the recently-released Galaxy Z Fold2 5G.

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New Samsung Display OLED panel with world's smallest curvature (Photo: Business Wire)

Furthermore, the UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) on the display, which adds a sleek and refined look, is helping to deliver a higher level of product excellence. In addition, the display leader’s third foldable OLED panel features a resolution of 2208x1768 pixels and a 7.6-inch screen.

Overcoming folding stress enabled lowest curvature rate

When a display panel comprised of multiple layers is folded, the front side faces contraction stress, while the backside encounters extension stress at the same time. Those repelling forces can have an impact on the overall structure of a display panel, and are collectively referred to as “folding stress.”

Folding stress is closely tied to the curvature rate of the display panel on the smartphone. A lower curvature rate imposes a greater force on the panel, raising the level of folding stress. That is why a panel that folds within the phone (“infolding”) requires a higher level of design expertise than the type that folds on the exterior of the phone (“outfolding”).

In an effort to minimize folding stress, Samsung Display has optimized a series of technologies related to the material of the display, the panel design and the module assembly, so that the multi-layered structure will function like a cushion when the panel is folded.

Given that the amount of time spent on smartphones within a 5G environment has sharply increased, Samsung Display’s new 1.4R foldable OLED offers what can be viewed as a more advanced convenience-oriented display.

“With a rapid increase in application usage, fueled by much higher levels of content amidst rising 5G commercialization, demand is already growing for our more advanced form factor,” according to Samsung Display. “The world’s first 1.4R foldable OLED, developed by Samsung Display, will provide consumers with greater value as it delivers near-perfect folding and outstanding image quality,” a company official added.

Verified 200,000 foldings; lowest level of blue light emission

Adding to the display’s customer satisfaction, Samsung Display commissioned Bureau Veritas**, a global test, inspection and certification company, to verify 200,000 foldings of its 1.4R foldable OLED display. As the first product to adopt a large area UTG, the 1.4R display required a higher level of development due to a folding area 1.7X larger than that of the Galaxy Z Flip. However, Samsung Display's cutting edge technology has now passed a folding test of 200,000 display panel folds, a criteria that serves as a universal yardstick to verify the strength of foldable panels.

In addition, Samsung Display has received “Eye Care Display” certification from SGS***, a world-renowned certification agency for reducing blue-light emission. The new display has achieved an improved emission level for blue light of only 6.5%. What is now the industry's lowest level of blue light offers a greater sense of comfort to the eyes despite longer screen viewing.

Footnotes:

* A lower R figure allows each panel to be folded more completely with proportionately less empty space remaining.

** Bureau Veritas: Established in 1828 and headquartered in Paris, France. Specializes in testing, inspection and certification services around the globe.

*** SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance): Established in 1878 and headquartered in Switzerland. Specializes in inspection and testing services worldwide.

About Samsung Display

Samsung Display Co., Ltd. is a global leader in the display panel market, with OLED and LCD technologies and products. Samsung Display has seven production facilities and five branch sales offices worldwide. The company specializes in high-quality displays for consumer, mobile, IT and industrial usage, including those featuring OLED (organic light emitting diode) and LCD technologies. As a total solution provider, Samsung Display strives to advance the future with next-generation technologies featuring ultra-thin, energy-efficient, flexible, and transparent displays. For more information, please visit https://www.samsungdisplay.com.

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