Foldable phones may soon have their biggest issue solved

Date:
Wed, 08 Sep 2021 09:55:02 +0000

Description:
LG Chem has created a technology that might be able to avoid the creases in foldable screens.

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Foldable phones have come a long way in the few years theyve been around,
with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 being a truly great handset. But they still face two significant issues: price, and the dreaded crease, the latter of which may soon be solved.

LG Chem has unveiled a Real Folding Window material which is designed for foldable screens. This would sit on top of the pixels, in much the same way
as Samsungs Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) does on its current foldables.

But while Samsungs solution is designed with strength in mind, LGs could apparently eliminate the crease in the screen where it folds. These are the best foldable phones Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is expected next year

But it doesnt sound like the company has sacrificed durability to achieve this, as it claims that there might not even be a need for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on top this is a material thats used on other foldables to protect the screen.

So it sounds like LG Chems Real Folding Window is the best of both worlds, with the company promising that its as hard as glass but as flexible as plastic. And if this material really can eliminate creases in the center of foldable screens too, then it should be a huge step up from what were seeing now. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 would be even better without the crease (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri) Analysis: no crease is a big deal

The crease in foldable phones is something that can largely be ignored or
even forgotten about, fading into the background of your mind much like punch-hole cameras do after youve used a phone with one for a while, but its still not ideal. In fact its quite a lot more noticeable than a punch-hole camera, as it runs down the length of the fold.

So while its something most people can live with, avoiding it could make a
big difference to the attractiveness of the screen, and remove a potential source of distraction, which isnt something anyone wants with their expensive smartphone purchase.

After that, its really just the price that needs addressing, and Samsung already seems to be working on that, with prices gradually dropping.

Of course, it remains to be seen how soon well see LGs tech in a foldable phone, especially as Samsung the biggest player in the space might be reluctant to switch from its own display tech, but hopefully this upgrade
will happen sooner rather than later. Get the best of TechRadar in your inbox every day: sign up for our newsletter

Via SlashGear



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/foldable-phones-may-soon-have-their-biggest-iss ue-solved/


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