Samsung Introduces Flex Titanium, Another Milestone in Foldable Displays

Commercial Article

Samsung Electronics has introduced Flex Titanium technology for the next generation of Galaxy foldable devices. Building on accumulated experience from developing seven generations of foldable device innovations, the new display design leverages advancements to deliver even better user experiences through increased display durability and reduced visibility of crease lines. Flex Titanium technology is based on two components – a titanium alloy film and a supporting titanium plate. Their combination ensures a balance between the thinness, flexibility, and strength of the foldable display structure.

“Samsung’s strength in the foldable device category lies in connecting user needs with our technologies that bring real benefits to everyday life,” says Sunghoon Moon, EVP and Head of Mobile R&D Office – H/W at Samsung Electronics. “With the new generation of Galaxy foldable devices, we are building on many years of experience and bringing display innovations that enhance user experiences.”

Building on Years of Experience with Foldable Devices

Samsung is a pioneer in mobile device display innovations and their mass accessibility to users. It was also instrumental in the rapid adoption of AMOLED displays in 2007 and the development of flexible displays.

Innovative technologies can only fully realize their potential and offer users meaningful features when they are continuously refined in real-world conditions. Foldable devices are no exception in this regard. During the development of seven generations of Galaxy foldable phones, Samsung carefully listened to customer feedback. This allowed them to identify their main desire – a larger and higher-quality display without a visible crease, without compromising durability or portability.

To fulfill this desire, Samsung had to redesign the structure of foldable displays using state-of-the-art technologies, materials, and engineering solutions. The result is another milestone in foldable display innovations – Flex Titanium technology. Thanks to this achievement, Samsung will continue to set the direction for mobile industry development and bring exceptional experiences to users.

Flex Titanium – A New Standard for Foldable Displays

To design a display that offers perfect visuals and maintains good mechanical properties even with daily use, Samsung redesigned its existing structural solutions. However, this required finding a material that was strong enough to withstand external impacts, flexible enough to endure repeated folding, and thin enough to fit within the device’s profile. It turned out that titanium offered the right mix of parameters to balance all three of these factors.

Titanium is known for its strength and durability. It is used in many of the most demanding applications, including satellite antennas or the wheels of a Mars exploration rover. Although it is a reliable material, its use in a thin and flexible foldable display structure was not at all simple due to its rigidity. Samsung created two key components from it – a titanium alloy film and a supporting titanium plate.

The titanium alloy film supports the display from within and is placed beneath the OLED panel. Compared to polymer film, it exhibits 20 times higher mechanical rigidity. Thanks to precise rolling, it has a thickness of about one-third of an average human hair, allowing for the production of an exceptionally thin display panel.

Beneath it is a flexible titanium plate that supports the display module from below. Advanced miniature hole creation technology has prevented the formation of air gaps between the module and the plate. This increases adhesion, which provides more stable support for the display in its unfolded state while maintaining the flexibility required for repeated folding.

The new display offers high resolution and utilizes improved organic materials to achieve vibrant colors with lower power consumption, thereby increasing energy efficiency and the device’s overall operating time.

“By ingeniously arranging small holes in the bending part of the titanium plate, we managed to ensure flexibility while also achieving high durability,” says Kyung-Jin Yoo, EVP and Head of Mobile Display Product Development Team at Samsung Display. “The high-resolution display, made from new organic materials with high energy efficiency, will further strengthen the competitiveness of the next generation of Galaxy foldable devices.”

The result of all these innovations is a thin, yet durable foldable display for an uninterrupted viewing experience. The balanced ratio of strength, flexibility, and stability once again positions Samsung as a pioneer setting standards in the field of foldable displays.

The new Flex Titanium technology will first appear in the upcoming generation of Samsung Galaxy foldable devices. Details will be unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked event.