What Comes After Foldables? A Sneak Peek Into 2025’s Smartphone Display Technology Trends

Introduction

The smartphone world is a rollercoaster of innovation. Just when you think things can’t get any crazier, a new wave of technology sweeps in. We’ve had tiny screens, big screens, notches, hole-punches, and even foldables. But as we inch closer to 2025, a new question arises — what comes after foldable phones?

Turns out, quite a lot. From under-display cameras and Micro-LED displays to rollable screens and low-power display tech, the next era of smartphone screens promises a sci-fi future we’ve only seen in concept videos. Let’s dive in and unpack the trends shaping the displays of tomorrow.

The Rise and Challenges of Foldable Phones

Remember when foldable phones first hit the market? It was like living in a tech fantasy. Devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Huawei Mate X captured imaginations worldwide.

But while foldables dazzled on the surface, they also revealed big problems:

Fragile screens prone to creases and breaks
High production costs
Durability concerns in daily use
Thick, heavy form factors

Though impressive, foldables remain niche. So naturally, the tech world’s eyes have shifted toward what’s next.

What’s Next? Emerging Smartphone Display Technologies

From invisibly embedded cameras to displays you can roll up like a scroll, smartphone screens are about to undergo their biggest transformation yet. Let’s break it down.

Under-Display Cameras (UDC)

What Are Under-Display Cameras?

UDC tech hides the front camera beneath the phone’s screen. No notch. No punch-hole. Just a seamless, uninterrupted display.

Current Limitations and Breakthroughs

While early versions had poor image quality due to light interference from the display, recent advancements in:

Screen transparency materials
AI image correction algorithms
Pixel density control in camera zones

…have made UDC cameras much more practical.

Brands Leading the Charge

Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and ZTE are aggressively investing in UDC, with ZTE’s Axon 40 Ultra showcasing one of the cleanest implementations yet.

Impact on Design and User Experience

UDCs will:

Create truly edge-to-edge displays
Enhance gaming and video immersion
Eliminate awkward punch-holes

Goodbye notches, hello uninterrupted screens.

Micro-LED Displays

Introduction to Micro-LED

Micro-LED is a next-generation display technology where tiny, self-emitting LEDs form each pixel. Think of it as OLED’s more advanced cousin.

Advantages Over OLED and LCD

Higher brightness and contrast
Better energy efficiency
Longer lifespan (no burn-in issues)
Thinner, flexible form factors

Current Development Status

Though Micro-LED TVs are already here (if you’ve got $80,000 lying around), smartphone Micro-LED displays are still in advanced prototype stages.

Major Players in the Race

Apple, Samsung, LG, and Sony are heavily invested, with Apple rumored to debut Micro-LED in the Apple Watch Ultra first.

Energy Efficiency and Display Quality

Micro-LED could dramatically improve battery life and outdoor visibility while offering vibrant, sharp visuals.

Scalability and Cost Challenges

Right now, Micro-LED production is expensive and complicated. But once economies of scale kick in, it could dethrone OLED as the industry standard.

Rollable (Scroll) Displays

What Are Rollable Screens?

Imagine a phone that expands horizontally or vertically to become a mini tablet. That’s a rollable display.

Demonstrations and Prototypes

LG, Oppo, and Motorola have shown off working prototypes where the screen slides out or unrolls with the tap of a button.

Practical Applications and Usability

Rollables offer the benefits of foldables without the bulky hinge or creases. Perfect for multitasking and media consumption.

Durability and Engineering Hurdles

The challenge lies in:

Maintaining screen integrity
Durability of flexible display materials
Internal mechanisms to roll/unroll without breaking

Low-Power and Always-On Display Innovations

As smartphones become more powerful, battery consumption soars. Display tech companies are addressing this through:

LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) for dynamic refresh rates
E-Paper inspired displays for outdoor readability
Ultra-low-power Micro-LED and OLED variants

This means longer battery life, cooler phones, and extended always-on functionality without killing your battery.

New Form Factors and Concepts

Beyond rollables and foldables, brands are exploring:

Wraparound screens
Dual-sided displays
Modular phones with swappable parts
Transparent display concepts

The possibilities are wild — and very real.

Potential Impact on User Experience

These new display technologies promise:

Seamless interaction with fewer physical buttons
Immersive, cinematic visuals
Enhanced gaming with high refresh rates and ultra-thin bezels
Better portability (no more phablets — phones that shrink or expand on demand!)

Major Challenges Facing Next-Gen Displays

Of course, this tech isn’t without hurdles:

Manufacturing complexity
Durability and repairability
High costs initially
Supply chain limitations

Overcoming these will be key to mass adoption.

Industry Leaders and Collaborations

Samsung, Apple, LG, BOE, and Sony are leading the pack. Cross-industry partnerships with companies specializing in AI imaging, advanced materials, and battery tech are driving rapid innovation.

When Will These Technologies Go Mainstream?

Under-display cameras: Already here, mass adoption in 2025
Micro-LED: 2025–2026 (starting with wearables)
Rollables: 2025 prototypes, consumer models by late 2026
Low-power displays: Incremental upgrades already happening

Conclusion

While foldables opened the door to display innovation, the next generation of smartphones is about to blow that door off its hinges. With under-display cameras, Micro-LED, rollable displays, and low-power screen tech, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for mobile displays.

So whether you’re a tech nerd, casual user, or someone waiting for the perfect upgrade — exciting things are on the horizon.

FAQs

1. What are under-display cameras and are they any good?
Under-display cameras sit beneath the phone’s screen, providing a full display with no cutouts. Early versions had image quality issues, but recent models are much better, using AI to enhance photo clarity.

2. Is Micro-LED better than OLED?
Yes — Micro-LED offers higher brightness, better energy efficiency, and longer lifespan without burn-in risks. The challenge is production cost, but that’s slowly improving.

3. Are rollable phones really coming soon?
Yes. Several brands, including LG and Oppo, have working prototypes. Consumer-ready versions are expected between late 2025 and 2026.

4. Will new display tech affect smartphone prices?
Initially, yes — new tech always costs more. But as production scales and competition increases, prices will become more accessible.

5. Which phone brands are leading next-gen screen tech?
Samsung, Apple, LG, Sony, Xiaomi, and Oppo are heavily invested in next-gen displays, each focusing on different aspects of innovation.

Loly

Hi, I’m Loly, the funder of MoPhoneParts.com, I’ve been running a factory in China that makes Mobile Phone Parts for 8 years now, and the purpose of this article is to share with you the knowledge related to cellphone parts from a Chinese supplier’s perspective.