Ever since I wrote “Samsung’s Bendable Phone Could Break Apple’s Innovation Hegemony” here on Forbes I have continued to receive a trickle of emails from readers wanting to know when a device with an unbreakable screen will be available. Usually such emails contain a story of a broken screen on a phone. I have not seen much interest in the bendable feature of the new technology, perhaps because consumers have not understood how useful it can be. On the other hand, broken screens are a common problem and perhaps that is the reason for the interest.
Here is an update. OLED association recently reported that Samsung will introduce an unbreakable screen in its Galaxy Note 3. The device is expected to be introduced in the fourth quarter before the holidays. The unbreakable screen will be an AMOLED screen similar to the present day Samsung Galaxy devices but will use a plastic substrate. The term ‘substrate’ in electronic circuits simply refers to the physical material upon which a device is built. The removal of glass as used in present day technology leads to this screen of the future becoming unbreakable.
Samsung Galaxy Note is a phablet. Phablets are a cross between traditional smartphones and tablet computers. Typically screen sizes range from five to eight inches. The first Galaxy Note had a 5.3 inch screen. Last year when Samsung introduced Galaxy Note 2, the screen size was increased to 5.5 inches. Last year during my research trip to Asia I witnessed first-hand the popularity of Galaxy Note among the movers and shakers. I must admit that since then I have been tempted to forsake two devices, a phone and a tablet, for a single phablet.
According to the OLED association, the screen on Samsung Note 3 is not likely to be full HD. The reason is the difficulty in ramping up production. In contrast to the typical present day screens, the plastic based screen will be thinner and lighter….Read more at Forbes
