Samsung Display has announced a significant breakthrough in the durability of its foldable OLED panels, revealing that the display for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold7 can withstand 500,000 folds.
This figure more than doubles the durability rating of its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold6, which was rated for 200,000 folds. The impressive durability rating for the Galaxy Z Fold7’s display was confirmed by Bureau Veritas, a global testing and certification company.
Their test involved folding and unfolding the panel 500,000 times over a 13-day period at a consistent temperature of 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Despite these rigorous conditions, the panel remained fully functional, demonstrating a substantial improvement in the longevity of foldable screens.
According to Samsung Display, this enhanced durability translates to considerable real-world usage. For instance, if a user folds their device 100 times a day, the Galaxy Z Fold7 should theoretically last over 10 years. Even for power users who fold their device more than 200 times daily, the display is projected to endure for over six years.
Samsung Display engineers drew inspiration from the multi-layered structure of bulletproof glass to achieve this increased resilience. They applied a similar multi-layer shock-resistant structure to the new foldable OLED panel. Key upgrades contributing to the Fold7’s display robustness include a 50% thicker outer Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) layer, designed to more effectively absorb external pressure.
A newly developed high-elastic adhesive that binds the OLED layers, offering four times the recovery performance compared to previous materials, was also implemented. Additionally, a flattening structure engineered to distribute shock evenly across the entire display surface was incorporated. Furthermore, a high-strength titanium plate backing the display provides additional structural integrity.
These innovations not only bolster the display’s durability but also contribute to the Galaxy Z Fold7’s overall slimmer and lighter design, addressing key aspects of foldable phone engineering. Samsung Display has effectively raised its internal benchmark for foldable screen durability, setting a new standard for the industry.
