LG Display has unveiled an upgraded version of its stretchable display with enhanced elasticity and durability. The latest 12-inch prototype can now stretch up to 18 inches without compromising its structure, potentially expanding the range of applications for flexible screens.
Although LG exited the smartphone market in 2021, the company remains active in the electronics and display technology sectors. At LG Science Park in South Korea, the tech giant recently showcased this advanced stretchable screen.
LG Display initially introduced a stretchable screen prototype in 2022 that could extend from 12 to 14 inches, achieving a 20% stretch. The new model, however, is an upgrade with an enhanced “wiring design structure” and improved silicon substrate—similar to the material used in contact lenses—that allows the screen to stretch up to 18 inches, representing a 50% extension.
This advanced prototype features a micro-LED light source capable of displaying full RGB colors at a resolution of 100ppi. While this pixel density is lower than that of most smartphones, LG emphasizes the panel’s durability, claiming it can endure over 10,000 stretches without compromising.
The new model has an enhanced wiring structure and uses a special silicon substrate similar to those found in contact lenses, which contributes to its increased elasticity and durability. As a result, the display can expand by up to 50% without losing its integrity, making it more resilient than its predecessor.
Stretchable screens are versatile and can be molded into various shapes, such as folding, twisting, or stretching, providing new possibilities for design and integration. LG’s Free-Form display can be applied to uneven surfaces like clothing, skin, or wearables, offering further flexibility. During demonstrations, the company showcased use cases such as a convex vehicle display that can be manipulated by hand and a screen integrated into a firefighter suit to relay real-time information.
This stretchable technology could have wide-ranging applications across multiple industries, including automotive, healthcare, and consumer electronics. Incorporating screens into unconventional places, such as wearable tech or clothing, presents new opportunities for interactive displays.
While LG Display’s stretchable screen offers exciting possibilities, the technology is still in its prototype phase and not yet ready for commercial applications.
The company has yet to announce any plans to bring this innovation to smartphones or wearables. However, the potential uses for stretchable displays are vast. These screens could be incorporated into clothing without sacrificing comfort or integrated into automotive dashboards, allowing infotainment screens to conform to curved surfaces while maintaining the vehicle’s design integrity.
The company demonstrated its stretchable screens in practical scenarios, such as wearable displays for firefighters and automotive screens that can be controlled by hand gestures. While we may not see these screens in consumer devices soon, this prototype provides a glimpse of how display technology may evolve, paving the way for more flexible and versatile screens in the future.
