CES 2016 Updates: Flexible 18-inch OLED Displays from LG to be Unveiled at this Year's CES Event; Foldable Smartphones Coming Soon?

LG is reportedly planning on unveiling a flexible OLED display at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) happening in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to the company, the display is so soft that it can be rolled up like a newspaper.

Despite its high-tech nature, announcements regarding flexible and foldable screens are not that surprising anymore since reports about these types of displays have been around since 2014. Aside from LG, other tech giants such as Samsung, Sharp and Sony have also talked about their own prototypes of flexible displays.

But, what sets LG apart from these other firms is that the display that it will unveil at CES, which will happen from January 6 to 9, will probably be the closest consumer-ready device that the world will see.

As noted by Mashable, since the display has a size of 18-inches, LG could market it as a new type of television device. If so, then it would make the act of transporting display screens much easier as it can easily fit in one's bag or pocket.

However, it is not yet clear what LG intends to do with the flexible screen but according to the site, one of its potential real-world applications is advertising. With a display that can be easily transported and installed virtually anywhere, companies can become even more creative in advertising their products and services.

Or, given its size, it could even be a revolutionary type of tablet.

Of course, given the nature of flexible screens, it's only natural to assume that the technology will eventually be applied to other popular consumer devices such as smartphones.

Earlier this week, Ubergizmo reported that Samsung recently filed a patent application for a foldable smartphone. According to the site, the device that the South Korean tech compact is envisioning folds in half like a small diary or book.

It also has hologram and projector features that can display 3D images onto other surfaces. But, unlike LG's upcoming display that can be easily rolled up, Samsung's device seems to use a pair of traditional smartphone screens. These two are separated by hinges in the middle to allow users to easily fold the device.

Also, this is not the first foldable smartphone that Samsung has filed a patent for. Although this clearly shows that the company is focused on this concept, Samsung has not yet showed signs that it's ready for a market release. LG, on the other hand, seems to be preparing to give the public flexible displays through its CES presentation.