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LG Display may have just redefined ‘flexible’ displays. On Friday, the South Korean company unveiled a prototype of the world's first truly stretchable display, capable of expanding by 50 per cent without sacrificing image quality.

The prototype features a 12-inch screen that stretches to 18 inches while maintaining a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch and full RGB color.

This isn’t LG’s first attempt at creating a stretchable display. The company showcased a prototype in 2022, though it had a maximum elongation rate of just 20%.

LG’s stretchable display is truly unique
“Ultimate display technology” is how LG describes its innovation. Unlike current flexible displays that bend or fold, these displays can truly transform, twist, and stretch into various shapes. This opens doors to a plethora of innovative applications across diverse sectors.

The development is part of a national project spearheaded by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, launched in 2020. LG Display leads the consortium of 19 research institutes involved in the project.

While the initial target was a 20% elongation rate, the team successfully doubled it through novel technologies. These include a special silicon substrate material commonly used in contact lenses and a groundbreaking approach to display wiring.

Durability is another key feature. LG Display claims the prototype can withstand repeated stretching up to 10,000 times. Additionally, the display employs a micro-LED light source measuring just 40 micrometres. This ensures consistent image quality even in challenging environments with extreme temperatures or external shocks.

At the event, the company demonstrated several applications for the displays, including curved automotive displays that can be controlled by touch gestures and wearable displays that can be integrated into firefighter uniforms for real-time access to information.

In addition to being uniquely stretchable, the displays are thin and lightweight and can adhere to curved surfaces such as clothing or skin.LG expects the technology to be used in a wide range of industries, from fashion to wearables to mobility.