LG Unveils World’s First Stretchable Display That Can ‘Transform’ From 12 Inches to 18 Inches

The Display Maintains High Resolution at Any Size

LG Display may have just redefined the concept of a “flexible display.” On Friday, the South Korean company unveiled a prototype for the world’s first stretchable display that can expand up to 50% in size while maintaining image quality.

The prototype is equipped with a 12-inch display that can expand to 18 inches, all while preserving a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch and full RGB color support. This isn’t LG’s first attempt at creating a stretchable display. In 2022, the company introduced a prototype with a maximum stretch ratio of just 20%.

This prototype can withstand repeated stretching up to 10,000 times.

LG calls it “the ultimate display technology.” Unlike current flexible displays that can only bend or fold, this display can actually transform, twist, and stretch into various shapes. This opens up the potential for a wide range of innovative applications in a variety of fields.

The development project is part of a national program led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea, which was launched in 2020. LG Display led a consortium of 19 research institutes involved in the project.

While the initial target was only a 20% stretch rate, the team managed to double that thanks to new technologies. These included a special silicon substrate material commonly used in contact lenses and a breakthrough display wiring method.

Durability is another highlight of the product. LG Display claims that the prototype can withstand repeated stretching up to 10,000 times. In addition, the display uses a micro-LED light source of just 40 micrometers, which ensures stable image quality even in harsh environments with high temperatures or external impacts.

At the event, the company demonstrated several applications of the display, including a curved display for cars that can be controlled by touch gestures and a display that can be worn on firefighters’ uniforms to provide real-time information.

In addition to being exceptionally stretchable, the displays are thin, light, and can be adhered to curved surfaces, such as clothing or skin. LG predicts that the technology will be widely applied in many industries, from fashion and wearables to the mobile sector.