Flexible OLED displays

OLED is a new display technology. Using light-emitting organic materials, beautiful and efficient displays can be created. OLEDs are very thin, and in fact can be put on flexible materials (plastic or metal foil). So it's possible to make bendable, flexible displays. Because these displays will not be covered with glass, they'll also be more durable - and virtually shatter-proof.

                                      

Flexible OLED products

Flexible OLEDs are still in the R&D phase - and there aren't any products on the market yet. Samsung and LG Display seems to be the closest to commercialization. Samsung had plans to release such displays in 2012, but that didn't happen. Some say they will do so in early 2013, but it may actually take them longer to successfully mass produce flexible OLEDs. The first displays will probably be curved OLEDs that will not be bendable, with the main advantages being a lighter, thinner and unbreakable panel. Samsung plans to brand these displays as YOUM AMOLEDs.

LG Display also has an active Flexible OLED program, with an aim to start mass production towards the end of 2013. LG Display's flexible OLEDs will use the same technology as Samsung's flexible prototypes - a polyimide coated substrate and direct-emission RGB sub-pixels.

Flexible OLEDs research

There are several companies working towards commercializing flexible OLEDs. Several display makers (not just Samsung and LG that we mentioned before, but also AUO, Sony, Toshiba and others) have already unveiled prototypes. There are many other supply-chain companies and universities that are doing active research towards these kinds of displays.