Wearable, mobile devices leading to rise in flexible displays

As the popularity and penetration of wearable and mobile devices increase, so too will demand for innovative flexible displays. In fact, revenue from flexible displays is expected to increase more than 300 percent, from just (all figures USD)$3.7-billion in 2016 to $15.5-billion in 2022, according to IHS Inc. Flexible displays will comprise 13 percent of total display market revenue in 2020.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics launched the first smartphones with flexible active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays in 2013, and both companies continue to adapt flexible AMOLED displays for their smartphones, smartwatches and fitness trackers. Inspired by these successes, other mobile manufacturers are now developing their own flexible-display devices.

Bendable, curved and edge-curved, but fully foldable form factors

“The varieties of flexible displays include screens that are bendable, curved and edge-curved, but fully foldable form factors are expected within the next two years,” said Jerry Kang, principal analyst of display research for IHS Technology. “Only a few suppliers – including Samsung Display, LG Display, E-ink and Futaba – are now regularly supplying flexible displays to the market. However, many more panel makers are now attempting to build flexible display capacity, leveraging the latest AMOLED display technology.”