Samsung Display’s latest foldable OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) has successfully endured 500,000 folding cycles, showcasing its exceptional durability.
On Tuesday, Samsung Display announced that its cutting-edge foldable panel had passed the rigorous 500,000 folding test conducted by Bureau Veritas, a globally recognized certification company.
In a bold move, Samsung Display raised the bar for durability testing, increasing the standard from 200,000 to 500,000 folds – a 2.5-fold increase. This advanced panel is now featured in Samsung Electronics’ recently unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 7.
A spokesperson from Bureau Veritas explained that the evaluation was carried out at room temperature (77°F) over a 13-day period. Remarkably, the panel maintained normal functionality even after 500,000 repeated folds. This impressive feat translates to over a decade of use for average consumers who fold and unfold their devices around 100 times daily. Even heavy users, who might fold and unfold their devices more than 200 times a day, can expect their devices to last over six years. This breakthrough effectively eliminates durability concerns as a limiting factor in the lifespan of foldable smartphones.
Samsung Display has further enhanced the robustness of its panels by implementing a shock-resistant reinforced structure, inspired by bulletproof glass technology. This innovation significantly improves the panel’s ability to withstand external impacts without deformation.
Drawing from the multi-layered design of bulletproof glass, which combines tempered glass with special plastic films to absorb bullet impacts, Samsung Display has made significant improvements. They’ve increased the thickness of the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) – the outermost protective layer – by 50%. Additionally, they’ve upgraded the adhesive bonding the internal layers to a highly elastic material with four times the recovery capability, dramatically improving the panel’s shock absorption.
The company has also introduced a flattened panel structure designed to effectively disperse external impacts. Moreover, they’ve incorporated titanium into the plate – the component that supports the foldable panel. This marks the second use of titanium in the Galaxy series, following its debut in the Galaxy Z Fold SE. While it’s challenging to process, titanium’s superior strength-to-weight ratio allows for a slimmer panel design without compromising protection.
Lee Hojung, Executive Vice President and Head of the Product Planning Team for Samsung Display’s Small and Medium-sized Display Division, stated that as the company enters the seventh year of foldable OLED commercialization, they’ve achieved remarkable advancements in both durability and design. He further explained that the latest innovation not only reinforces consumer confidence in the longevity of foldable panels but also reaffirms Samsung Display’s unparalleled expertise in foldable technology, setting the company distinctly apart from their competitors.