Samsung said to bring 5.5-inch flexible screen to CES
updated 08:33 pm EST, Thu December 20, 2012
Bendable screens thought not yet ready for consumers
When next year's Consumer Electronics Show kicks off in early January, Samsung's display unit will reportedly show off its latest flexible display technology, which is small enough to fit into a smartphone. The South Korean conglomerate is said to be preparing to show two types of bendable screens, one smartphone-sized and the other a 55-inch display. Such technology could significantly transform the form factors of smartphones and televisions, though Samsung executives are silent on when these screens might make their way into consumer-ready devices.
Samsung and other manufacturers have been known to have been working on flexible displays for some time now. Samsung in particular, though, is thought to be close to integrating such displays into consumer products. Prior to the launch of the company's Galaxy Note II, rumors floated that the device would feature a flexible display. Those rumors turned out to be false, but Samsung executives tell CNet that the company is still pressing forward with flexible designs.
The technology Samsung is said to be preparing to show off at CES includes a 55-inch television-size screen, as well as a 5.5-inch screen with a 1280x720 HD resolution and pixel density of 267ppi. The displays are currently said to be bendable, but they do not roll up.
While the possibility of a major device with a flexible screen being unveiled at CES may be remote, the forthcoming electronics expo is expected to herald a significant shift for Samsung. Reports have it that Samsung will unveil a major rebranding effort over the course of CES, with its familiar logo giving way to a redesigned one more suitable for a major global brand. Samsung has also teased a major device unveiling for the electronics show, though details on any possible device remains scarce.
