Gurugram, July,
2025.
Samsung Display announced today that its latest foldable
OLED panel remained fully functional after a 500,000-fold durability test, once
again proving the exceptional durability of its foldable OLED technology.
The panel was tested and verified by the global testing,
inspection, and certification company Bureau Veritas. Samsung Display raised
its internal durability testing standard from 200,000 to 500,000 folds, which
is 2.5 times its previous benchmark, underscoring its confidence in the panel’s
long-term resilience. The panel is used in the recently launched Samsung Galaxy
Z Fold7.
According to Bureau Veritas, the test was conducted over
13 days at 25°C (77°F), and the panel remained fully functional after 500,000
folds. A total of 500,000 folds translates to over 10 years of use for average
users folding their device about 100 times a day, and over 6 years for heavy
users folding more than 200 times daily, proving that durability is no longer a
limiting factor in the lifespan of foldable smartphones.
This remarkable durability is made possible by Samsung
Display’s newly developed shock-resistant structure, inspired by the design
principles of bulletproof glass.
Traditional bulletproof glass consists of multiple
layers of strengthened glass and plastic films engineered to absorb and
disperse energy on impact. When a bullet strikes the surface, the elasticity of
the outer glass layer takes in much of the impact energy, preventing
penetration. Samsung Display applied this concept by increasing the thickness
of its outermost UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) by 50% and introducing a new
high-elastic adhesive applied to each layer inside its OLED panel, offering
over four times the recovery performance compared to the previous material.
These enhancements significantly improve the panel’s ability to absorb external
impact.
In addition, a new flattening structure was incorporated
to distribute shock evenly across the panel, and a titanium plate was adopted
to support the display. The titanium plate offers high strength while being
lighter and thinner than conventional materials—resulting in a slimmer form
factor with greater protection.
"As foldable OLED enters its seventh year of
commercialization, we’ve achieved another meaningful breakthrough in both
durability and design,” said Hojung Lee, Executive Vice President and Head
of Mobile Display Product Planning Team at Samsung Display. "This new
panel not only builds consumer confidence in foldable OLED durability but also
underscores the technological advantage that makes Samsung Display
distinguished in the industry.”