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The trend of foldable phones is growing rapidly. Today, the market offers many smartphones that can be folded in the middle to become smaller. Unfolding the phone reveals a large screen, while folding it makes the device quite compact. This unique feature is what attracts people to these phones. However, a question naturally arises: how exactly does the screen bend? If the screen is made of glass, why doesn't it break when folded? The fact is, foldable phone screens are manufactured differently than standard smartphone screens.

Foldable phones are not a new concept; flip and folding phones existed in the market years ago. However, the screens back then were not like those on today's smartphones. Those older models featured physical buttons and had much smaller screens. Now, companies are introducing foldable phones where the entire screen functions via touch.

**Use of OLED Screens**
The standout feature of a foldable phone is its bendable display. OLED technology is typically used for this purpose, as OLED screens can be engineered to be both thin and flexible.

In contrast, LCD screens require a separate backlight to provide illumination from behind. This results in thicker layers, making them difficult to bend. With OLED, each pixel generates its own light; therefore, no separate backlight is needed, allowing the screen to be made much thinner.

**Special Plastic Instead of Glass**
Crucially, foldable phone screens are not made of standard glass. Since glass cannot be bent, a special type of flexible material is used instead. A strong, flexible cover layer sits atop the screen, protecting it during daily use. This is why the screen does not shatter like ordinary glass when the phone is opened or closed.

However, this does not mean foldable screens are indestructible. They can still be damaged by sharp impacts, scratches, excessive pressure, or improper handling. Therefore, it is best to handle such phones with a bit more care compared to standard smartphones.

Multiple layers within the OLED screen
A foldable OLED display is not made of just a single layer; it consists of several distinct layers working together.

Substrate layer: This serves as the screen's foundation and supports the other display layers.

TFT layer: This helps deliver power to the screen's pixels and controls them.

OLED layer: This is the component where pixels generate light, allowing us to see images on the screen.

Cover layer: This protects the display from the outside and helps keep the screen safe during daily use.

Why doesn't the screen break?
Simply put, the screen in a foldable phone is not constructed like ordinary glass. The display is able to bend thanks to the OLED's thin structure and flexible layers. A special hinge located in the middle of the phone also assists in folding the screen in a controlled manner.

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