LG Display Begins Mass Production of 17-Inch Foldable OLED Panels for Laptops

Full-Scale Expansion of OLED Market for IT Applications

LG Display is making a full-scale push to expand the OLED market for IT applications.

LG Display announced on the 24th that it has recently started mass production of 17-inch foldable laptop OLED panels. These panels feature LG Display's tandem OLED device structure technology, which was previously used in automotive OLEDs, now expanded to IT applications to dramatically increase lifespan.

Tandem OLED was first developed by LG Display in the industry in 2019. It stacks two organic light-emitting layers, offering superior durability and performance such as long lifespan and high brightness compared to conventional products. By dispersing the energy applied to the OLED device, it can operate stably for a long time. It is considered an optimal technology for IT products like laptops, monitors, and tablets, which have relatively long screen usage times.

An LG Display model is using a device equipped with a 17-inch foldable laptop OLED panel. /
[Photo by LG Display]

The panel introduced by LG Display minimizes crease phenomena on the folding part by applying special materials, unlike existing foldable panels, providing a smooth screen when unfolded. It features an in-folding structure that folds the screen inward, reducing the curvature of the folding part to 3R (a bend with a radius of 3 mm), enabling a slim design where the top and bottom of the screen appear tightly aligned when folded in half.

Additionally, it delivers clear high-definition content with a 17-inch screen featuring QHD+ (2560x1920) resolution and the infinite contrast ratio unique to OLED. When fully unfolded, it can be used as a 17-inch portable monitor or tablet PC with a 4:3 aspect ratio, and by adjusting the folding angle, it transforms into a 12.3-inch laptop with a 3:2 aspect ratio, allowing versatile use. It also features a high-sensitivity total touch solution, supporting both finger and pen touch.

Following the commercialization of the 13.3-inch foldable laptop OLED in 2020, the first in the industry, LG Display is expanding its lineup with the 17-inch foldable laptop OLED, expecting to strengthen its technological leadership in the IT OLED field. A representative from LG Display said, "We will expand orders by developing various IT OLED panels based on differentiated technologies such as tandem OLED and special folding structures."