The “unbreakable” OLED display is made from a flexible plastic substrate and plastic cover. It has been verified by UL and is intended for use in portable devices.
Samsung’s “unbreakable” OLED
While Samsung has demonstrated very durable OLED displays in the past, this one can withstand even more impact. The company explains that flexible plastic-based OLED displays in smartphones are usually protected by a glass cover. This one has a sturdy plastic cover.
- “The fortified plastic window is especially suitable for portable electronic devices not only because of its unbreakable characteristics, but also because of its lightweight, transmissivity and hardness, which are all very similar to glass,” said Hojung Kim, general manager of the Communication Team, Samsung Display.
Samsung says that the recently-developed “unbreakable” OLED display panel has been verified by UL (Underwriter Laboratories). It has passed a “rigorous real-time durability test”. In the video below you see an employee beating it with a rubber mallet. It appears to be very durable but it is not clear how prone it is to scratching.
- “According to UL, the unbreakable display developed by Samsung Display passed the rigorous real-time durability test that is based on military standards set by the U.S. Department of Defense. After a drop test administered at 1.2 meters (nearly 4 feet) above the ground 26 times in succession, and accompanying high (71 degrees) and low (-32 degrees) temperature tests, the Samsung unbreakable panel continued to function normally with no damage to its front, sides or edges,” the company said. “Even in a subsequent 1.8M (nearly 6 feet) drop test – significantly higher than the U.S. military standard – Samsung Display’s unbreakable panel operated normally with no sign of damage.”
Samsung imagines that the new OLED display can be used in smartphones, portable gaming devices, tablets, and other types of portable devices. The company did not provide a timeline for mass production but it nevertheless brings us one step closer to truly flexible displays.
