Dynamic smartphone display with integrated speaker technology unveiled

A analysis crew has developed the world’s first smartphone-type OLED panel that may freely rework its form whereas concurrently functioning as a speaker—all with out sacrificing its ultra-thin, versatile properties.

The research, led by POSTECH’s (Pohang College of Science and Expertise) Professor Su Seok Choi from the Division of Electrical Engineering and performed by Ph.D. candidates Jiyoon Park, Junhyuk Shin, Inpyo Hong, Sanghyun Han, and Dr. Seungmin Nam, was published within the March on-line version of npj Versatile Electronics.

Because the show business quickly advances towards versatile applied sciences—bendable, foldable, rollable, and stretchable—most implementations nonetheless depend on mechanical constructions equivalent to hinges, sliders, or motorized arms. Whereas these enable for form adjustment, in addition they lead to elevated thickness, added weight, and restricted type issue design. These drawbacks are significantly restrictive for smartphones and wearable electronics, the place compactness and class are crucial.

Furthermore, for immersive person experiences, present units usually require separate speaker modules, additional rising gadget complexity and quantity. The combination of each form adaptability and audio performance has remained a big problem—till now. Take bendable shows as a living proof.

Whereas they will alter display screen curvature to enhance viewing immersion and cut back distortion, most present designs, equivalent to these showcased at MWC 2024, obtain transformation by way of mechanically compelled U-shaped bends. Their flexibility is proscribed, and so they proceed to depend on exterior elements for each motion and sound output.

Shaping transformation and sound integration

To beat these limitations, the POSTECH analysis crew launched a novel answer based mostly on a specialised ultra-thin piezoelectric polymer actuator. When built-in into a versatile OLED panel, this actuator allows electrically pushed form transformation into all kinds of complicated varieties—not solely concave curves, but in addition convex, S-shaped, inversed S-shaped and wave-like configurations that reply dynamically, nearly like a show in movement.

Crucially, this deformation is achieved fully via electrical indicators, with none mechanical hinges, gears, or exterior motors. The OLED show maintains its signature thinness, softness, and light-weight profile, reaching new ranges of mechanical freedom with none bodily burden.

Much more impressively, the identical actuator may generate vibrations in response to high-frequency electrical indicators, permitting the OLED panel to operate as a speaker. This implies the show floor itself emits sound, utterly eradicating the necessity for conventional speaker {hardware}.

“That is the primary expertise to mix freeform form morphing and built-in sound output in a single ultra-thin OLED panel, with out exterior elements,” stated Professor Choi. “We preserved all the things OLEDs are recognized for—thinness, flexibility, and light-weight—and expanded their performance in an entire new route of complicated and dynamic form morphing with extra sound emission.”

Demonstrated on actual OLED panels

The analysis crew efficiently applied this expertise on an precise smartphone-scale OLED panel. The panel demonstrated dependable, reversible form transformation between quite a lot of geometries and clear sound technology—all whereas remaining compact, versatile, and skinny.

This primary and all-in-one answer contrasts sharply with present industrial shows. For instance, LG’s CES 2025 award-winning 5K 2K bendable monitor nonetheless depends on motorized structural assist, and Samsung’s AI-enhanced OLEDs showcased at MWC 2024, whereas spectacular, don’t combine audio into the show floor itself and wrap typical cumbersome speaker with bendable OLED utilizing structural assist as nicely.

POSTECH’s method uniquely merges mechanical adaptability and acoustic output—totally embedded within the OLED construction itself. In consequence, all whereas sustaining ultra-thin flexibility is achieved within the compact dimension of a smartphone.

This innovation lays the groundwork for a brand new technology of clever, shape-adaptive, and audio-responsive shows throughout a number of industries. Potential functions vary from morphing cell shows, immersive automotive dashboards, and audiovisual wearables, to tender robots with interactive, expressive surfaces.