Samsung is a pioneer in the field of OLED panels and is usually the first to develop new display technologies for mobile devices. The company already has a head start in the foldable smartphone market, and now it has its sights set on sliding smartphones and tablets. The company is reportedly ready to showcase the world’s first foldable + slideable OLED panel.
According to ETNews, Samsung Display will showcase the world’s first foldable + slideable OLED panel at the CES 2023 expo later this week. However, the company will only demonstrate the technology behind closed doors to its partners. The South Korean company is reportedly calling it a hybrid panel. As the name suggests, this kind of screen supports folding and sliding at the same time. After unfolding, by sliding, another part of the screen will come out. When fully folded, the panel measures 8 inches diagonally. Measures 10 inches when unfolded. And when this hybrid OLED panel is fully unfolded and slid open, it measures 12.4 inches.
The company is reportedly testing the panels for use in devices that can transform from smartphones to tablets and laptops depending on the user’s needs, which would be quite expensive. It is unclear when Samsung Display will start mass producing such screens, as even device makers will need to implement this advanced technology in their products to use this foldable + slideable screen. Devices require extremely advanced hinges and metal plates to hold such displays.
Samsung is trying to expand the market for OLED panels by developing advanced form factors. Already in many smartwatches, fitness bands, smartphones and tablets, OLED screens are slowly spreading to laptop and PC monitors. Hybrid OLED panels could also be used in car interiors, as they expand and slide away to expand the screen real estate.
