LG Display Unveils World’s First 50% Stretchable Display

LG Display has introduced a pioneering stretchable display capable of expanding by 50%, marking the highest elongation rate in the display industry. The prototype, presented on November 8 at LG Science Park in Seoul, features a 12-inch screen that stretches up to 18 inches while maintaining a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch and vibrant RGB color. The showcase involved over 100 representatives from South Korean industry, academia, and research sectors engaged in the national stretchable display project.

Stretchable displays are valued for their versatility, allowing them to bend, fold, and twist freely, adapting to irregular surfaces such as clothing and skin. LG Display’s new panel, which doubles the stretch rate of the initial prototype introduced in 2022, holds promise for applications in wearable tech, fashion, and automotive interfaces. The enhanced stretchability and durability allow the display to withstand over 10,000 stretches while maintaining image clarity, even in extreme conditions.

The breakthrough stems from advanced materials and design improvements, including a special silicon substrate inspired by contact lenses and a new wiring structure. Additionally, a micro-LED light source measuring up to 40 micrometers ensures durability and flexibility. This innovation aligns with LG Display’s commitment to develop core technologies for next-generation displays in collaboration with South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE).

As the project leader since 2020, LG Display has collaborated with 19 local industry and research entities. By advancing this technology, LG Display aims to foster a sustainable display ecosystem and establish an R&D infrastructure that supports material and component localization. CTO Soo-young Yoon emphasized the company’s commitment to building a robust partnership across South Korea’s display sector, paving the way for competitive applications of stretchable displays in diverse industries.

Flexible displays are not new; we have seen them for a while now, including in smartwatches, smartphones, and TVs. Over ten years ago, major brands launched devices with curved displays, like the 2014 Samsung Gear S smartwatch, the 2013 LG Flex smartphone, and the World’s first curved 3D OLED TV unveiled by LG at CES 2013.

By 2021, curved TVs were almost extinct, but curved smartwatches saw a revival in 2019 and 2020, with the Nubia Alpha and the Amazfit X. Curved smartphones were replaced in 2018 and 2019 by foldable smartphones, and curved displays found practical applications as gaming monitors.

LG is constantly seeking mass-market applications for flexible and bendable displays. With groundbreaking innovations like world’s first rollable OLED TV in 2019 and the first bendable 42-inch OLED TV in 2022, LG likely inspired other brands such as Lenovo, Motorola, and Samsung (although Samsung had experimented with rollable displays before). These OEMs showcased rollable and bendable displays for laptops, smartphones, and wrist-worn devices at international tradeshows in 2023 and 2024.