Smartphones with flexible screens could be coming sooner than we think, as LG Display is apparently set to begin mass production of flexible display panels by Q4 2013.
Samsung showed off its "Youm" flexible display at the International CES event earlier in January this year, but it seems LG may just pip the former in the race of who launches a smartphone with a flexible screen first.
According to a new report from The Korea Times, LG Display intends to supply flexible displays to a gamut of clients by Q4 2013.
"We have completed the development of our first flexible displays. We will mass produce flexible displays from the fourth quarter of this year," LG Display revealed to the publication. "We will apply a 4.5th generation glass-cutting technology for the OLED flexible displays. Monthly capacity for the line was set as 12,000 sheets."
Flexible display technology is much-touted and highly anticipated because it would allow for far more durability, as such displays can bend instead of shattering, breaking or cracking.
The excitement surrounding flexible displays is reflective of the emerging trend for innovative and new display technology. LG spokesman Frank Lee told Korea Times that one of the reasons the company was gearing up for mass production was to meet "the rapid need for display advancements."
Earlier in April, LG's VP of Mobile Yoon Bu-hyun disclosed that the company is looking to unveil its first flexible smartphone sometime in 2013. The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology deployed by LG in these new display panels is apparently thinner, lighter and more flexible than traditional LCD screens.
Post the Korea Times report, CNET contacted LG Display and a spokesperson confirmed that the company would indeed mass produce flexible displays in the second half of 2013.
"LG Display will start to mass-produce flexible displays in the second half of this year as planned," the spokesperson confirmed to CNET via an email.
With flexible displays being touted as the next big thing for smartphones, it will be interesting to see who succeeds in being the first to bring the technology to the market, LG or someone else.
