On a flat screen, contour lines appear, and the center of the display suddenly rises. A 3D representation of Jeju Island, with Hallasan Mountain at its peak, emerges. Soon, the surrounding blue ocean begins to ripple on the screen.
Recently, Samsung Display showcased its “stretchable display,” featuring microLED technology. This display can stretch up to 1.25 times its original size, like rubber, while maintaining gaming monitor-level resolution (120 PPI). The stretchable display represents the next generation of screens, capable of returning to their original shape even after being stretched or twisted. In 2022, LG Display also unveiled a high-resolution prototype with a 12-inch screen that can expand to 14 inches.
As China rapidly advances in both LCD and OLED panel technology, Samsung Display and LG Display are accelerating their efforts to develop innovative OLED products. With China not only increasing production but also enhancing its technology, the South Korean companies aim to secure the future display market with differentiated technology.
“Unlike LCDs, OLEDs offer many areas for differentiation, such as form factor, ultra-low power consumption, performance, and quality,” said Choi Joo-sun, president and CEO of Samsung Display, during the “K-Display 2024″ exhibition held Aug. 14-16 at COEX in Seoul. “Our goal is to lead the competition with China by focusing on premium products.”
Samsung Display is concentrating on developing portable displays. The company plans to expand its market by introducing new form factors beyond the current clamshell-style foldable phones. Examples include the “Flex S,” which can fold twice; the “Flex In & Out,” a foldable phone concept that can fold both inward and outward, allowing 360-degree use; and the “Cling Band,” a smartwatch that can wrap around the wrist. Last year, Samsung Display revealed the “Sensor OLED,” which can recognize fingerprints and monitor cardiovascular health across the entire screen. This display can measure the user’s heart rate, blood pressure, and stress level with just a finger touch.
“Typically, smartphone fingerprint sensors are separate components placed beneath the panel, but the Sensor OLED integrates the sensor into the panel itself, allowing it to recognize touches anywhere on the screen,” a Samsung Display spokesperson said.
LG Display is focusing on displays that can be used inside vehicles. As cars increasingly shift from buttons to touchscreen controls, LG’s strategy is to incorporate large displays within the vehicle. Earlier this year, at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, LG Display unveiled the industry’s largest automotive slidable OLED, which remains hidden in the ceiling of the back seat until it slides down. “It can be used to watch movies, view the news, or conduct video conferences while on the move,” an LG Display representative said.
LG Display also revealed a 57-inch screen, the world’s largest single panel for automotive use. Spanning from the driver’s A-pillar to the passenger’s A-pillar, it has been named the “Pillar-to-Pillar LCD.”
