Samsung presents latest OLED technology for smartphones

Samsung has presented a new technology highlight that could possibly shake up the smartphone market. The South Korean company with a focus on consumer electronics showed its latest OLED development for the first time. The experience-based ultra-thin screen is not only supposed to be equipped with a fingerprint sensor and a blood pressure monitor. On top of that, the company is betting on a rollable design, which could quickly turn a mini smartphone into a large tablet.

Samsung continues to develop OLED

With devices like the Galaxy Z Fold4 unveiled in August 2022, Samsung has brought the foldable market to the masses. However, the competition is not sleeping. Huawei recently presented its latest premium foldable, the Mate X3, which seems to eliminate some weaknesses of Samsung’s foldable series. Naturally, the pressure on Samsung is all the higher. In order to keep the upper hand, the South Koreans have consequently thought ahead and developed a technology that is supposed to lift the convertible concept of foldables to a new level. And not only that. At the SID Display Week 2023, the company showed its latest OLED panels, which bring exciting technical innovations. Also in the mix is “Rollable Flex.”

Here, an OLED screen is unceremoniously unrolled like a screen. We already know this technology from exotic large-format TVs. However, Samsung wants to ensure further development, especially in the smartphone sector. Accordingly, the “Sensor OLED Display” was the focus of the presentation. The manufacturer claims to have succeeded in integrating a pulse and blood pressure monitor into the ultra-flat panel. Samsung also sees the sheer size as an advantage over the competition. While the screen size of current foldables can only be doubled on average, the display growth of the rollable screens could be significantly larger.

Screen is simultaneously sensor

Unlike previous smartphones, Samsung does not install a local sensor. Instead, the entire display acts as a sensor in the “Sensor OLED Display”. This results from the fact that the light entering the screen is used as the basis for measurement. Depending on how it is reflected, the device can then analyze the user’s blood vessels. As a result, the user’s vital signs can be measured anywhere on the display.

By the way, when presenting the measurement technology, the South Koreans refer to their smartwatch Galaxy Watch 5 presented in August 2022. Those who want to have their blood pressure measured will probably have to put at least one finger of each hand on the display. For most, however, it is probably not the new measurement options that are interesting. It is certainly much more practical that the entire display can now recognize fingerprints. This should not only make unlocking easier. On top of that, Samsung saves the installation of a separate sensor, which makes the devices even thinner.

Display grows fivefold

However, not only the sensor display is new. On top of that, Samsung presented a new OLED panel that can be rolled out. The growth of the rollable display is really impressive. The height changed from 4.9 cm to a remarkable 25.4 cm during the presentation. Since Samsung is still very cagey about the OLED technology, we will certainly have to wait for some time until the rollable display is launched. The third innovation is Samsung’s Flex In & Flex Out display. Here, the tech company forgoes the use of an outer display on the Foldable. Instead, the device can simply be folded in both directions.