HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft and Others Partner with LG to Develop Fold-out Smartphone Displays

Microsoft and Others Partner with LG to Develop Fold-out Smartphone Displays

Microsoft, Google, and Apple are allegedly the first to buy into LG's fold-out smartphone display. It will be OLED and begin manufacturing in 2018.

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, , and have been listed as the first buyers of LG's foldable OLED displays. The screens are set for mass production in 2018, and will allegedly compete with Samsung.

The information comes from Korean site etnews, who claims the information came from an industry source. Though LG has previewed foldable e-book readers previously, the latest development is expected to be smartphone-oriented.

Microsoft's Plans

What exactly is meant ‘fold-out' smartphone display is difficult to discern. Apple currently has a number of IPs on foldable devices, but Microsoft's plans are less clear-cut.

However, another glance at the Redmond giant's ‘Productivity Future Vision' video holds some clues. Several foldable devices make an appearance, including a tablet and wristband.

Though no fold-out make an appearance, Nadella has previously said they'll be  focusing “on places where we have differentiation.” A foldable device would meet those criteria.

According to etnews, sources say that the “technical level of this prototype is significantly high.”
It's possible we'll be seeing some serious, cost-effective foldable soon.

It's possible that Microsoft plans to integrate this with the Surface Phone. However, rumors suggest that it will be coming in late 2017, while LG is supposedly starting the OLED production in 2018.

In all likelihood, Microsoft is just getting its hands on this tech for testing purposes. As with the Surface Studio, it could be many years before all the tech aligns to make a worthwhile device.

Despite rumors from those knowledgeable on the matter, LG is yet to disclose any information about the partnership. A representative told etnews LG Display cannot disclose any information regarding its customers.Whatever the case, it will interesting to see what Microsoft, Google, and Apple do with the technology if the reports do hold-up.

Whatever the case, it will interesting to see what Microsoft, Google, and Apple do with the technology if the reports do hold-up. Many OEMs are betting on foldables as the next big smartphone change, and it could be exactly what Microsoft needs to get back out there.

Sourceetnews
Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.

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