Samsung created the commercial foldable display category in 2019 with the Galaxy Fold and has since shipped over 40 million foldable devices across the Z Fold and Z Flip lines. The technology requires ultra-thin glass (UTG) coverings, flexible OLED panels with specialized polyimide substrates, and hinge mechanisms that withstand 200,000+ folds. LG Display has demonstrated rollable OLED panels for TVs (LG Signature OLED R) and laptop prototypes.
Foldable displays require solving simultaneous engineering challenges: the panel must bend without cracking, the crease must be minimized, the touch layer must maintain sensitivity across the fold, and the cover material must resist scratches while remaining flexible. Samsung holds thousands of patents in this space and has at least a two-year manufacturing lead over Chinese competitors.
The foldable category is expanding beyond phones into tablets, laptops, and automotive displays. Samsung Display is developing tri-fold panels and slidable form factors for next-generation devices. This is a technology where Korea's lead was established through first-mover manufacturing investment, and maintaining it requires continuous iteration at the materials science level.