LG’s new foldable display tech is as hard as glass, reduces creases
TL; DR
- LG Chem developed the Real Folding Window technology.
- A special coating is applied to a thin plastic film.
- The solution has the same hardness as glass, but is as flexible as plastic.
There are two main problems with many foldable phones today, namely the fact that the foldable display has a crease and the plastic top layer of the screen is often softer than traditional glass smartphone displays. Now LG Chem has announced a new type of cover material that promises to address these issues.
The company today presented its so-called “Real Folding Window” technology, which is used in the form of a specially developed coating on a thin plastic film made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). LG Chem adds that the material is thinner than existing tempered glass but has the same hardness while being as flexible as plastic.
“Unlike existing polyimide films and tempered glass materials, the cover window using LG Chem’s new coating technologies will maximize flexibility while providing optimized solutions for foldable phones such as screen (sic),” said a company spokesman.
Related: The Best Foldable Phones You Can Buy Right Now
LG Chem says that shelf life is “fully maintained” after the Real Folding Window is folded 200,000 times. The company adds that the technology can be used for both retractable and retractable displays. The solution also offers significant improvements to the “fold lines” that appear in the fold areas of the screen (ie, it reduces wrinkles).
The company is also working on offering the special coating without the use of plastic film. This presumably opens the door for manufacturers who want to simply spice up their already finished foldable phone designs, much like adding Gorilla Glass.
When will we be able to buy the first foldable phones with this technology? It looks like we’ll have to wait quite a long time as LG Chem says it won’t reach mass production capabilities until 2022, adding that full sales will begin in 2023. The company says it is also considering expanding beyond phones and applying the technology to laptops and tablets. LG Chem points out that it has already received suggestions from several customers for joint projects.
We asked the company about comparisons to ultra-thin glass in terms of cost and other factors and will update the article accordingly.
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