Korean company Samsung Display announced its unbreakable smartphone panel passed a series of durability tests.

The screen consists of a flexible OLED panel with an unbreakable substrate and an plastic overlay window securely adhered to it.

Current-generation flexible display products attach their display to a glass-covered window that can break relatively easily upon impact. The plastic window by Samsung is lightweight, transmissive and hard, similar to glass.

The unbreakable screen has been verified by Underwriters Laboratories, passing the rigorous real-time durability test based on military standards set nu the U.S. Department of Defence. The display has undergone a drop test of 1.2 metres (almost 4 feet) above the ground 26 times in succession, as well as one of 1.8 metres (nearly 6 feet). It also underwent a temperature test at 71 degrees Celsius (160 degrees Fahrenheit) and -32 degrees Celsius (-25 degrees Fahrenheit). The panel continued to function normally with no damage to its front, sides, or edges. In the video below, you can see the new OLED screen survive being attacked by a hammer.

Samsung suggests that the screen could be used for smartphones, but also display consoles in cars, mobile military devices, portable game consoles and tablets. As of yet, Samsung has not revealed when the screens will be incorporated in any product.

Photo: Samsung Display