LG Display has started developing foldable displays, following rival Samsung, signaling the beginning of a new era of foldable smart devices.
Late last year, LG Display establised a task force team and since then the company has the transferred the foldable display project from the research stage to its development department. This means that the company
is starting to work on the commercialization of its foldable displays. It is heard that LG Display is currently developing foldable displays for foldable smartphones that can be transformed to tablets if they are spread open. It is also known that LG’s foldable display can be folded inside or outside.
LG Display recently signed a license agreement with Canada’s IGNIS Innovation related OLED circuit technology. Although detailed information is not known yet, IGNIS said that this cooperation will result in the development of foldable displays.
"People are going to witness foldable Smartphones that can become tablets when they are spread open within couple years." said CEO Peter Monsberger of IGNIS Innovation during an interview with Canadian press.
Erlier this month, LG Display started bringing equipment to its facilities (E5) in Gumi to start producing 6th generation plastic OLEDs. If OLEDs are made based on plastics, bendable, foldable, and flexible displays can be made. There are high chances that Gumi-si will become a major base station for next-generation displays such as bendable, foldable, and rollable displays.
LG Display is planning to start operating its facilities in Gumi in first half of next year.
Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display are also rumored to have made significant progress in the development of foldable smartphones.