Bendable screen : Future of mobile display

Advancement of mobile-phones have reached to such an extent that bendable phones are just around the corner. With so much anticipation building in just after the Edge displays, the next big smartphone revolution can be, bendable displays.

Here is what you need to know about the new technology:

1. What is flexible display?
In general, display means the electronic device for any visual presentation, adding flexibility means you can bend it the way you want. Beneath your glass is a layer which is made using flexible materials (like plastic) rather than rigid glass. Therefore, phone makers now want to upgrade the displays feel from glass to plastic, entirely, meaning that you can flex your phone screen without breaking or bending it.

Companies like Samsung and LG (or any other) are getting edgy about this new technology, from organic light-emitting diode, or OLED companies have shifted their interest towards it.

Obviously, like the Edge display not many people are looking forward about the innovation part and its fair usage in real life, but in terms of technology it is pretty cool as an innovation. It can replace your flat rectangular VR headset to give a more realistic view. Also, you wouldn’t have to worry about any breakage or tampering of the screen.

2. But we already have curved screens, what’s the point?
Yes, we do have curved screens like – Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S, but the curved screen itself means that the screen is limited to a certain extent, meaning you cannot flex it. But the point of having these flexible screen means better display technology in phones can lead to better innovation in larger screens.

Also, the technical goods of having curved displays are increased readability and less glare from curved display. Using plastic instead of glass is a revolution which will not only make phones thinner and lighter but would also allow different shapes beyond standard rectangular screens.

Just imagine rolling up your phone to your wrist, like elastic bands or maybe folding phone to your pocket. The possibilities with bendable displays are too much but the real potential of these screens is still on hold until the technology is launched in the market.

3. What goes in the screen that makes it flexible?
For now it’s very hard to predict as the technology has just crossed its nascent stage, and requires more time until it’s flagged off as a product. Although, going by reports, specific plastic polymers are used for the screens.

4. I get it the displays flex, but how does the whole phone can flex?
Considering the displays can flex it’ll be very hard to make technologies that replace the circuit boards that run the actual operating system. That’s the crucial part where all the innovation is dangling a bit. For now, the batteries can be flexible but circuit boards will requires further research before these flex phones roll out.

5. So when should I expect the bendable displays to hit the market?
Currently, this is the technology that many companies are looking forward to, specifically companies like, LG, Samsung and Lenovo. According to this year’sBloomberg’s reports , Samsung might launch two variants with the technology. The phones could launch as early as 2017.

Samsung has been teasing flexible screens for years, though it hasn’t officially announced any consumer product with this technology. The company said at a 2014 event that some of its first bendable designs for device manufacturers were expected by the end of that year, CNET reported . Still, we’re halfway through 2016 with no bendable phones in sight — which means that the technology is a bit of challenge, period.

However, if Samsung releases a smartphone with a bendable screen, it is very likely that the phone will be more expensive than any average smartphone.

This also raises a question for companies like Samsung, how to justify the technology to the consumer?

For now, even if the technology hasn’t entered into the market, we can still say that the technology can take a lead for future displays.

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