LG invests $1.7 billion in OLED screens for flexible phones

Not content with a host of five-star 4K OLED TVs, LG is looking to push ahead with plans to bring more flexible OLED screens to market.

We've seen various curved, bendable and even rollable screens from LG (and Samsung) in recent years, and after rumours last month, LG Display has confirmed it is investing a hefty KRW 1.99 trillion (around $1.75bn or £1.33bn) in a new flexible OLED display production line.

The new line will specialise in making bendable OLED screens that can be used in flexible mobile phones. Just last week it emerged the company was working on a foldable phone that can double as a tablet.

MORE: OLED TV - everything you need to know

LG is already pumping out plenty of the necessary displays using existing lines, but this new investment is said to be in preparation for "the approaching era" of flexible phones.

LG Display, a subsidiary of LG, invested around $905m in flexible OLED last year, revealing prototypes such as the LG 'Wallpaper' screen, which can be stuck flat to a wall and then peeled off.

And two flexible smartphones have already been released, the LG G Flex and G Flex 2.

According to IHS DisplaySearch, a market research firm, the flexible OLED market is expected to grow from 59 million shipments in 2016 to 416 million in 2020.

Or if you prefer to keep your OLED screens flat, you can marvel at the company's excellent 4K OLED TV line-up...

MORE: 9 of the best 4K TVs

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).