LG launches world's first stretchable screen that can 'transform' from 12 inches to 18 inches

This display can still maintain high resolution at any size.

LG Display may have just redefined the concept of 'flexible display. ' On Friday, the South Korean company unveiled a prototype for the world's first stretchable display, capable of expanding in size by up to 50% while maintaining image quality.

The prototype features a 12-inch display that can stretch to 18 inches while maintaining a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch and full RGB color. This isn't LG's first attempt at creating a stretchable display. In 2022, the company showed off a prototype with a maximum stretch ratio of just 20 percent.

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

LG calls this the 'ultimate display technology'. Unlike current flexible displays that can only bend or fold, this display can actually morph, twist, and stretch into a variety of 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, launched in 2020. LG Display leads a consortium of 19 research institutes participating in the project.

Although the initial target was only a 20% elongation rate, the team managed to double that figure thanks to new technologies, including a special silicone 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. Additionally, the display uses a micro-LED light source of just 40 micrometers, which helps ensure 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 with touch gestures and a display that can be worn on firefighters' uniforms to provide real-time information.

In addition to being exceptionally stretchable, these displays are thin, light, and can adhere to curved surfaces, such as clothing or skin. LG predicts the technology will find widespread application in a variety of industries, from fashion and wearables to the mobile sector.