Galaxy Z Fold7, The Secret Behind Exceptional Durability - Samsung Foldable OLED
The recently released Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 boasts the slimmest profile to date-measuring just 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded. Despite its ultra-thin design, it offers even greater durability, once again impressing users. So, how did Samsung manage to combine such a slim form factor with exceptional durability?
The secret lies in Samsung's foldable OLED. The foldable OLED used in the Galaxy Z Fold7 successfully passed a 500,000-fold durability test, certified by the global testing organization Bureau Veritas-proving its remarkable durability. This means it has met a standard 2.5 times higher than the previous benchmark of 200,000 folds.
What does the 500,000-fold test passed by Samsung's foldable OLED really mean in terms of daily use? For an average user who folds their device around 100 times a day, it equates to more than 10 years of usage. Even for heavy users who fold their devices up to 200 times a day, the panel remains durable for over 6 years. Let's take a look at the technologies behind the exceptional durability of Samsung's foldable OLED.
Samsung's foldable OLED panel owes its outstanding durability to a shock-resistant structure inspired by the principles of bulletproof glass. Bulletproof glass is constructed using a multi- layered design that combines strengthened glass with special plastic films. When struck by a bullet, the elastic surface of the glass absorbs the impact, preventing penetration. Drawing from this concept, Samsung Display applied a similar approach to significantly reinforce the durability of its foldable OLED.
Let's take a closer look at the innovations behind Samsung Display's shock-resistant structure. First, Samsung Display increased the thickness of its outermost UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) by 50%, significantly enhancing its ability to absorb impact. This is because thin glass breaks easily while thick glass absorbs and disperses impact more effectively.
Samsung also upgraded the adhesive that binds the internal layers of the panel, replacing it with a new high-elasticity material that is more than four times the recovery performance compared to the previous material. This special adhesive behaves much like slime-deforming under pressure but quickly returning to its original shape-allowing it to effectively absorb external shocks and further enhance the panel's durability.
In addition, the panel incorporates a flattening structure that helps disperse external impact over a wider area, preventing it from being concentrated at a single point. This is similar to how pressing with a fingertip can cause pain, while applying the same pressure with the palm of your hand feels less intense due to the larger contact area.
Finally, the support plate beneath the foldable panel is made of titanium. Although titanium is challenging to process, it offers high strength while being thinner than conventional materials. This enables a slimmer panel design without compromising protection.
Now entering its seventh year of commercialization, foldable OLED technology has once again evolved-delivering enhanced durability in an even slimmer form factor. Powered by its advanced foldable OLED technology, Samsung Display is set to provide an even more refined and immersive display experience. Stay tuned!