Samsung continues to push the boundaries of foldable display technology, achieving a new milestone in durability with its latest foldable OLED panel. The company announced that its newest panel surpassed a rigorous 500,000-fold durability test, demonstrating a significant leap in the lifespan and reliability of foldable devices. This breakthrough addresses a key concern surrounding foldable smartphones, paving the way for wider consumer adoption and solidifying Samsung's leadership in the foldable market.
The 500,000-fold test, conducted and verified by Bureau Veritas, a global testing, inspection, and certification company, simulates years of real-world use. The test was performed over 13 days at a temperature of 25°C (77°F), and the panel remained fully functional, proving its exceptional resilience. To put this into perspective, 500,000 folds translate to over 10 years of use for average users who fold their devices approximately 100 times a day, and over 6 years for heavy users who fold their devices more than 200 times daily.
Hojung Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Display Product Planning Team at Samsung Display, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, "As foldable OLED enters its seventh year of commercialization, we've achieved another meaningful breakthrough in both durability and design". Lee added that the new panel not only builds consumer confidence in foldable OLED durability but also underscores the technological advantage that makes Samsung Display distinguished in the industry.
This enhanced durability is attributed to several innovative design and material advancements. Drawing inspiration from bulletproof glass technology, Samsung Display developed a shock-resistant structure for the panel. This design incorporates multiple layers of strengthened glass and plastic films engineered to absorb and disperse external impact. Specifically, Samsung Display increased the thickness of its Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) by 50% and introduced a new high-elastic adhesive to each layer within the OLED panel, improving fold recovery performance by four times compared to previous designs. Additionally, a new flattening structure was incorporated to distribute shock evenly across the panel, and a titanium plate was adopted to support the display. The titanium plate offers high strength while being lighter and thinner than conventional materials, resulting in a slimmer form factor with greater protection.
The foldable OLED panel that achieved this 500,000-fold milestone is featured in the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 showcases Samsung's commitment to refining the foldable experience, combining enhanced durability with a sleek and functional design. Recent tests reveal that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is impressively robust, and can withstand freezing, bending, and being submerged in various liquids. The device is also thinner and lighter than previous models.
Samsung's journey in foldable technology began in 2008, with the first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, being introduced in 2019. Since then, Samsung has consistently refined its foldable designs, incorporating advancements such as Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) and Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) to enhance durability and user experience. The company has also focused on improving water and dust resistance, with the Galaxy Z Fold series achieving IPX8 water resistance and IP48 dust protection.
With the latest 500,000-fold durability achievement, Samsung is addressing a critical barrier to wider foldable adoption, assuring consumers of the long-term reliability of these innovative devices. As foldable technology matures, Samsung's continued focus on durability and design innovation is expected to drive further advancements and solidify its position as a leader in the foldable market.
