LG has announced its latest foldable display development, a cover window technology it is calling a ‘Real Folding Window.’
The materials are intended to be a coating for foldable display devices, “to make the surface as hard as glass, while the folding parts as flexible as plastic,” LG Chem said in a statement.
The company said its ‘Real Folding Window’ coating differs from the types of PET plastic film currently being used on various foldable display devices because it will have better crack and wear prevention over time, added resistance to heat, increased durability, and the ability to fold over 200,000 times, as well as being optimized for outward folding in addition to the commonplace inward folding.
Many devices currently on the market include the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, the Galaxy Z Flip 3, and the Motorola Razr, in addition to brands such as Oppo and ZTE, thinking outside of the U.S. The Samsung Galaxy Fold 3, in particular, was recently stress-tested by Allstate Protection Plans and praised for its ability to withstand various drop and water durability tests. The display is made and protected with a mix of Samsung’s Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) and Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus. Samsung also claims the display has 80 percent greater flexibility over the previous generation.
This gives LG an interesting stance to contend against manufacturers that have not only brought multiple models of their own foldable products to market but are also reportedly licensing their foldable display technology to other companies. Currently, there is word that Google will use Samsung’s UTG on an upcoming foldable smartphone.
In comparison, LG showcased its rollable display technology at CES 2021 in January, but then proceeded to shutter its mobile business in April. However, it appears that the goal was to focus its energy on its strengths, such as display technology.
“We will strengthen our partnerships with leading companies of the smartphone industry and expand our market starting with mobiles and going on to new foldable applications such as laptops and tablets,” LG Chem Vice President and IT Materials Division Leader, Chang Do Ki said in a statement.
LG Chem said that it plans to begin mass production of the ‘Real Folding Window’ in late 2022 and have devices featuring the component on the market in 2023.
