Samsung tests foldable OLED durability with robot basketball at CES 2026

Samsung has found an unusual way to prove the durability of its foldable OLED displays. At CES 2026, the company is literally hurling basketballs at them — and the screens are taking the hits.

At the Samsung Display booth, in the Robot Basketball zone, 18 foldable OLED panels are mounted on a backboard with targets while a robotic arm repeatedly throws balls at them, simulating heavy impacts. It’s a striking way to address one of the biggest concerns around foldable phones: resistance to mechanical stress.

The tests don’t stop there. In another trial, steel balls are dropped from about 30 centimeters onto the panels to compare their toughness with competing solutions. According to Samsung Display, even after these impacts the foldable OLEDs continue to operate normally, with no structural damage or image distortion.

The company is also showcasing reliability beyond mobile devices. Its automotive OLED displays are placed in a refrigerator to demonstrate performance in the cold. Even at -20 °C, the panels maintain a 0.2 ms response time — on par with what you’d expect at room temperature.

All of these demos are available to Samsung Display partners as part of the company’s private exhibit at CES 2026. The message comes through clearly: the brand isn’t just talking about rugged foldable screens — it’s working hard to prove it, and doing so in a way that’s hard to ignore.