Flexible smartphones should be available from next year!

Samsung have just announced that they plan to start production of the first smartphones with flexible screens in 2013. The ultra-thin flexible displays will make use of Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED’s) that are so thin that they can be put onto flexible materials such as plastic and metal foil.

The introduction of flexible OLED’s would mean that cracked screens would be a problem of the past and the plastic screen would also make the phone lighter and more durable than current glass touch-screens.

Sony and LG already have prototype flexible displays but have yet to work out a process to mass-produce the smartphones to release them to the mass market. Samsungs optimistic announcement that they intend to start production as soon as next year has lead to speculation that the much anticipated Galaxy S4 will in fact be the first smartphone to make use of OLED technology.

Although at first the new flexible phones will carry a premium price tag, eventually this development should bring down the cost of smartphones. Once the process has been perfected, using plastic instead of glass could significantly lower the production cost.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a stylish way to protect the delicate glass screen of your smartphone, you might want to invest in a robust cover like the Fenice Black Diamante iphone4 case – even if it’s just to see you through until you can get your hands on the first flexible OLED smartphone!