This screen can maintain high resolution at any size.
LG Display may have redefined the concept of “flexible screens.” On Friday, the South Korean company unveiled a prototype of the world’s first stretchable display, capable of expanding its size by up to 50% while maintaining image quality.
This prototype features a 12-inch screen that can stretch to 18 inches while keeping a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch and displaying full RGB color. This is not the first time LG has experimented with creating stretchable displays. In 2022, the company introduced a prototype that could only stretch up to 20%.
This prototype can withstand repeated stretching up to 10,000 times.
LG refers to this as “ultimate display technology.” Unlike current flexible screens that can only bend or fold, this display can actually transform, twist, and stretch into various shapes. This opens up potential for a wide range of creative applications across different fields.
This development project is part of a national program led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy of South Korea, initiated in 2020. LG Display leads a coalition of 19 research institutes involved in this project.
Although the initial target was only a stretchability of 20%, the research team succeeded in doubling this figure thanks to innovative technologies. These include a special silicone substrate commonly used in contact lenses and a groundbreaking display wiring method.
Durability is another standout feature of the product. LG Display claims this prototype can withstand repeated stretching up to 10,000 times. Additionally, the screen utilizes micro-LED lighting just 40 micrometers in size, ensuring stable image quality even in harsh environments with high temperatures or external impacts.
At the event, the company showcased several applications for the display, including a curved screen for cars that can be controlled via gesture touch and a wearable screen for firefighters’ uniforms to provide real-time information.
In addition to its unique stretchability, these screens are thin, lightweight, and can adhere to curved surfaces, such as clothing or skin. LG predicts this technology will be widely applied across various industries, from fashion and wearable devices to the mobile sector.
