photo credit: www.oled.si
LG and Samsung have started mass production of their first smartphones with flexible OLEDs. Rumor has it the devices will see the light of day late October-early November, though report goes that LG won’t release its bendable smartphone by . Only time will show when the Galaxy Note 3 Active and LG G Flex will hit our local stores. As of now, let’s find out what is a flexible OLED display, its pros and cons as well as the upcoming devices to boast such a technology.
What is a Flexible OLED Display
Flexible OLED is an emerging technology that is already being used in a number of mobile phones as well as TV-sets. When talking about flexibility, it’s important to mind that there are different kinds of this technology and not all devices with flexible OLEDs will be bendable indeed.
Such OLEDs are based on flexible substance that can be made either from plastic or metal, or even flexible glass. Owing to such materials, flexible OLEDs are light and thin. Analysts suppose they will be rather durable and even shatter-proof.
Flexible display pros & cons
Like any other technology, flexible OLEDs have some positive and negative sides. But for being rather innovative, flexible displays include such advantages as:
- Unbreakable. Unlike glass screen, flexible OLED displays are more durable and will be virtually unbreakable. Owing to such a technology, manufacturers will be able to create thinner and lighter pocket-friendly devices. Unlike a common screen, these displays are less prone to scratching and cracking. Flexible OLEDs emit less heat and are more energy efficient.
- Design. Owing to the bendable displays technology, there is no need for bezels or borders. The display can be edge-to-edge, it can show some specific data on the edge, provide touch sensitive controls, and what not. Flexible OLEDs allow to change the form factor of devices as well as bring a number of new shapes.
- Dimensions. Flexible displays are much thinner and lighter than glass screens we’ve got used to. OLEDs will be large enough. For instance, LG G Flex is rumored to have a 6” screen, while the Galaxy Note 3 Active will boast a 5.7’’ one.
LG flexible OLED concept
But for a number of advantages, flexible OLEDs have some drawbacks as well.
- Doubtful flexibility. First flexible OLED smartphones won’t be able to bend. Most likely, developers will stick flexible displays to the non-flat surface of future devices, so that the final user won’t be able to bend them. However, such phones will have a number of prerogatives: they will be much lighter and thinner than the current smartphones; unlike glass screens that can hardly pass drop tests nowadays, smartphones with flexible OLEDs will be more durable. Report goes that the second generation of smartphones with flexible OLEDs will be truly bendable. This means that the final user will get a device that can be stretched, folded and bended.
- Internal hardware and battery issues. One of the first questions that arises while talking about bendable smartphones is what kind of battery should it be powered by. As of now, we haven’t heard about the flexible batteries development that could be put inside flexible smartphones. This is where wearable technologies come to mind. Just imagine that your flexible device could be powered wirelessly, with batteries incorporated into clothes. Sounds like a miracle. Maybe manufacturers will come up with some other sources of power for new bendable smartphones. Let’s wait and see…
Only time will show when we’ll be able to put hands on such devices. As of now, let’s get back to the LG and Samsung smartphones with flexible OLEDs that are currently in production.
Upcoming Flexible OLED Display Smartphones
As I’ve already mentioned above, LG and Samsung are planning to launch their first smartphones fearing flexible OLEDs this autumn. Both companies are to present limited edition phones only. Most likely, they want to see how the audience will react to the launch of such gadgets and then start mass production of flexible display phones, if necessary.
While LG is to launch a 6-inch LG G Flex somewhere in November, Samsung has announced about its Galaxy Note 3 Active October release. Not much is known about the specs phones will boast. What we’ve managed to find out about the LG G Flex features is that it will have an OLED display with 1,280 x 720 pixels resolution, Snapdragon 800 chipset and Adreno 330 graphics processor. The device will have a plastic body, which will make it lighter and much easier to grip.
Galaxy Note 3 Active, in its turn, will have a 5.7-inch full D super AMOLED display. Most likely, the smartphone will have a plastic body as well.
photo credit: wmpoweruser.com
Report goes that Apple is also planning to launch a new device with flexible OLED display. Unlike LG and Samsung, the Cupertino company is to present a smartwatch with 1.5’’ flexible OLED panel. Such rumors have not been confirmed yet.
Latest LG Offers
While the upcoming LG G Flex is still in production and it’s unclear whether we’ll see international release of the device, let’s consider the latest LG gadgets that are available for purchase. Order the LG G2 (Verizon Wireless)
- The thinnest bezels ever. The bezels surrounding the 5.2-inch display have become 0.1-inches thin.
- Outstanding processor. The LG G2 is the first smartphone on the market to offer a powerful Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon 800 processor.
- Camera. With its 13 MP rear camera you’ll be able to capture the most memorable moments of your life in high-res photos and share them easily owing to QuickMemo access.
The Optimus Pad is positioned as a powerful tablet boasting a 1 GHz dual core processor and Android’s all new tablet-optimized Honeycomb platform. Order LG Optimus 8.9-inch 3D 4G Tablet
In addition, from Amazon you buy Google Nexus 4 Unlocked 16Gb model as well as LG Venice and a number of other smartphones. Make your choice and enjoy the latest LG smartphones at full!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews:
“By bending in a oval shape it reduces the distance your fingers must travel to use the device one handed allowing for larger screens. Their also less likely to break and with time cheaper/easier to produce then current OLED rigid panels. Oh and their also thinner which will make our phones thiner aswell. Should mention LG just introduced flexible batteries so we might so a foldable phone at some point.” - Gilles LeBlanc
“As a User Experience Designer, I can only figure a few advantages to having a flexible screen. However, I can’t figure out if it would have mass appeal. What is the one, distinctive advantage over current screen technology? (i.e. 1. reduced weight 2. ability to attach to other objects like clothing or a car dashboard / windshield) Are people going to stand in long lines for this? Will the screen be transparent or opaque? What about image quality and resolution? I guess we’ll find out.” - Rick Hollandsworth
“Flexible displays have appeal if you can do things like roll them up to make the device more compact however there are lots of trade-offs. They will scratch more easily, for one because they will have to be made of pliable materials instead of glass which can be extremely hard and scratch resistant. The biggest issue with incorporating a flexible display is creating a design that brings value to the consumer and not just novelty – especially challenging since there will still be parts of the phone like batteries, circuit boards and large board-mounted chips that remain rigid and brittle.” - Major_Pita
Author: Katherine Crayon
