Samsung is currently the top contender when it comes to foldable smartphone vendors with Huawei and a few others in the race. Although Taiwanese-based LG has done away with smartphones, it is tinkering with various technologies including its latest foldable display. Dubbed as “Real Folding Window”, LG promises that it is far improved than what Samsung uses with its foldable line of smartphones.
LG’s Real Folding Window uses a Polyester (PET) film to coat both sides of a glass. According to LG Chem which published a press release for the same, the coating allows for maximum flexibility and provides enough reinforcement. Overall, it is thinner than the existing tempered glass that some OEMs use but along with it, it is hard to prevent cracking and creases on the screen.
LG’s Real Folding Window has this coating material spread across a few dozen micrometers that provides excellent heat resistance as well. Basically, the idea is to use the plastic coated with PET film and apply it on top of the flexible OLED panel. This increases the glass’ ability to fold and bend with less noticeable creases and lasts longer.
LG says that the coated PET film is capable of hosting a lot of devices from laptops, tablets, and even rollable-screen phones. Also, LG is looking forward to smartphones that allow inward and outward folding mechanisms too whereas the current lineup of foldable smartphones opt for inward folding mechanisms only such as Moto Razr, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and Fold series among others.
Adding bendability across both inward and outward definitely has a massive advantage for LG’s Real Folding Window. However, it is unclear whether the tech juggernaut stated that the ability to bend both ways is available in the same or different ones.
LG has plans to commence production of foldable display technology by next year with full-scale sales in 2023 as per the projection. From smartphones, LG will move towards laptops and tablets later on as aforementioned above.
