Flexible OLEDs: introduction and market status
OLED is an emerging display technology that enables beautiful and efficient displays and lighting panels. OLEDs are already being used in smartphones, laptops, wearables, tablets and TVs, and many of OLEDs are flexible ones.
A flexible OLED is based on a flexible substrate (usually polyimide). The first generation of OLEDs produced on these were not really flexible from the user perspective. The device maker bends the displays, or curves it - but the final user is not able to actually bend the device. These first-gen flexible OLEDs are adopted many premium smartphones, for example the Samsung edge-type Galaxy phones or Apple's latest iPhones. A plastic-based OLED has several advantages especially in mobile devices - the displays are lighter, thinner and more durable compared to glass based displays.
Second generation flexible OLED displays can be bent by the user - these can be used for example to create foldable smartphones - the first range of which started shipping in 2019 and today these are quite popular. Rollable OLEDs are likely to enter the market soon, offering the ability to create scrollable devices. In 2019, LG launched the world's first rollable OLED device - the 65" Signature OLED TV R but in 2024 it discontinued this device as its price was too high for consumers. A new wave of rollable OLEDs are on the way, for automotive, laptop and may also smartphones soon.
Where to buy flexible OLEDs?
While several companies (including Samsung, LG, BOE and others) are producing OLED displays, it is not straightforward to find a good and reliable supply of these displays.
If you are interested in buying a flexible OLED panel for your project or device, look no further. Our OLED Marketplace offers several flexible OLEDs, which can be ordered through us with ease.
Further reading
More details emerge on SDC's $2.5 billion flexible OLED expansion plan in Asan
Last month we reported that Samsung Display decided to expand its OLED production hub in Asan, looking to expand its flexible (mostly foldable) OLED capacity.
According to the latest news from Korea, Samsung has indeed confirmed the expansion, and more details on SDC's plans has emerged. This expansion plan is part of a large Korean government initiative to build a next-generation production base in Asan, for both displays and semiconductors.
Rumors suggest Samsung may launch its first rollable OLED phone in 2028
A new report from Korea says that Samsung Display and Samsung Electronics are in advanced discussions towards the supply of smartphone rollable OLED panels, as Samsung Electronics is considering launching its first rollable phone in 2028.
According to the report, the phone will have a 10-inch 440PPI display (when fully opened), with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This will be almost tablet sized - and much larger than most foldable phones (Samsung's Z Fold7 for example has a 8-inch display when opened).
Researchers use MVDL technology to deposit high-performance, flexible and transparent metal mesh OLED electrodes
Researchers from Seoul National University have developed high-performance flexible transparent electrodes, using selective metal deposition. They have successfully implemented these electrodes in a top-emitting OLED device, to demonstrate the effectiveness.
To create these electrodes, the researchers developed a novel metal patterning technology, based on a metal vapor desorption layer (MVDL). MVDL can enable high-resolution metal mesh patterns, down to only a few micrometers (μm), without the need for chemical cleaning or lift-off processes. This helps minimize the damage to the underlying organic layers.
Sigmaintell: flexible AMOLED fab utilization in China drops to 69% in early 2026
According to Sigmaintell, the average utilization rates in Chinese 6-Gen flexible AMOLED production lines declined from around 80% in Q4 2025 to 69% in Q1 2026.
Sigmaintell says that the main reason for the decline is lower demand from Chinese smartphones makers as they face a declining market, and increased component costs (mainly memory chips). In addition, some companies have large inventories of panels.
Samsung Electronics reduces its foldable smartphone shipments in 2026
An interesting industry report suggests that Samsung is planning to ship 5-6 million foldable smartphones in 2026, from its new 8-Gen series (which will include the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Flip8, and the new Galaxy Wide Fold).
These numbers are slightly lower than what the company shipped in 2025, about 6 million units for their Galaxy Z7 series. It appears as if Samsung is anticipating a somewhat lower demand this year for foldable smartphones - a few months ago it believed it will ship 6.5 million units in 2026.
Reports suggest Samsung is considering expanding its flexible and foldable OLED production hub in Asan
Reports from Korea suggest that Samsung Display has decided to expand its OLED production hub in Asan, looking to expand its flexible (mostly foldable) OLED capacity.
It seems as if Samsung is seeing higher demand for foldable OLEDs in the future, starting with Apple's first foldable OLED smartphone launch later this year.
Sigmaintell: the global OLED smartphone market rose 4.7% in Q1 2026, to 202 million units
According to Sigmaintell, global OLED smartphone shipments reached 202 million units in Q1 2026, up 4.7% from Q1 2025 (193 million) thanks to higher demand for flexible AMOLED panels from Apple and Samsung Electronics, and also from Chinese smartphone brands.
Rigid OLED shipments dropped 33% from last year, but flexible OLED shipments rose 19%. The market share of Korean flexible OLED makers (Samsung Display and LGD) rose to 42.8%, up 8% from last year. Samsung Display shipped 55 million OLED panels in Q1 2026 - up over 50% from last year.
LG Display shows a wide range of new OLED displays and technologies at SID Displayweek 2026
LG Display is showcasing a wide range of OLED displays and prototypes at SID Displayweek 2026. In this article we detail the most interesting demonstrations and technologies.
First up, is LG's 3rd-Gen Tandem OLED, these are AMOLED displays, aimed towards the automotive market. LG says that it has introduced two new technologies into its tandem stack - a deep-blue dopant and optimized hole and electron movement. It isn't clear exactly what LG refers to, but it does say that these new technologies enable tandem OLEDs with improved power consumption (18%), brightness (1,200 nits), lifetime (over 15,000 hours) and color purity and reproduction.
Reports suggest Apple and Samsung are developing a quad-edge-curved OLED for the iPhone 20
In 2027 Apple will release its 20th iPhone model, and it is reported that the company is working with Samsung to develop a special OLED display for the new device, which may be called the iPhone 20 - or the iPhone XX.
A Quad-curved iPhone (AI render)
The new display is said to offer a polarizer-free (COE) architecture, a "micro-curved" flexible AMOLED that will curve on all four sides, and under-the OLED Face-ID and camera.
Omdia: AMOLED smartphone display shipments are expected to decline by 7% in 2026
Omdia says that AMOLED smartphone display shipments are expected to decline by 7% in 2026 amid rising memory prices and increasing market uncertainty. Both flexible and rigid OLED shipments will decline.
Omdia expects 778 million smartphone panels to ship in 2026, down from 836 million in 2025. Flexible AMOLED shipments will decline for the first time in seven years. Rigid (glass-based) OLED shipments declined in 2025 as well, as smartphone vendors prefer using flexible OLEDs as production prices are dropping the technology gap is closing.
