Google has asked Samsung to develop a foldable OLED panel with a size of about 7.6 inches. Samsung is developing foldable OLED panels for supply to OPPO, Xiaomi, and Google. These panels will be utilized in devices released later in 2021.
Google will release its first foldable Pixel phone this year, using Samsung OLED panels. It is reported that as more and more Android smartphone manufacturers launch foldable devices, Apple has also reported that it may release a foldable iPhone in the future, and Google may launch its first foldable Pixel device as soon as possible this year.
According to documents leaked in August last year, Google plans to release a foldable Pixel phone in the fourth quarter of 2021. Google confirmed in 2019 that the company is developing technology that can be used in foldable devices, but at the time the company said that it ‘has not seen specific use cases that played down the prospect of launching foldable devices.
Google will release a foldable device more credible. It is reported that the first foldable Pixel phone will utilize the now more popular internal folding design. The recently launched Huawei Mate X2 uses inward folding technology. According to Huawei, Mate X2 uses innovative materials and hinge technology to achieve seamless folding and eliminate display creases.
It is reported that Samsung is the first manufacturer to launch a foldable device, but the 2019 Galaxy Fold has major design problems, including display creases and panel breakage caused by debris entering the hinge.
Samsung learned from the design of the Fold, improved the design, and ultimately brought the Fold to the market again. Since then, the company has introduced foldable flip phones, such as the recent Galaxy Z Flip.
Market research company Omdia predicts that foldable OLED sales this year will reach 2.1 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 203% over 2020. The foldable panels produced by Samsung are expected to account for most of the sales.
Samsung has always been an important supplier to Apple, providing OLED displays for Apple. It is reported that Samsung intends to lead the foldable display market as a supplier, and is considering increasing production to 10 million units per year based on demand.
Although Apple has not yet made a clear response on whether to release a foldable phone, there have been rumors that Apple has obtained samples of the foldable display from Samsung for future iPhone testing.
Apple has been studying foldable display technology for some time and has applied for a number of patents related to this technology, LG also has similar rumors.
Apple and Samsung’s orders for foldable displays provided us several hints that work on the foldable iPhone is continuing, and there are rumors that the phone will be released in 2023 at the earliest.
(Via)
