Samsung Display and LG Display have been working on flexible and foldable display technology for many years. And before LG left the mobile market in 2021, the company was on the brink of releasing its first device based on foldable display technology. More specifically, the company devised a rollable phone. And while LG never got to release the phone to the general public, a few high-ranking LG employees/engineers were reportedly allowed to buy it.
A new video detailing the so-called LG Rollable has popped up on YouTube. This video was made possible by one employee who, at some point, bought the rollable device before LG shut down its mobile division worldwide. The rollable phone was accompanied by a message saying “The spirit of challenge to develop the Rollable will always remain.”
Although the LG Rollable will never have the chance to compete with Samsung's foldable and future rollable devices, this video allows us to imagine what Samsung's potentially-strongest rival in the foldable/rollable device market could've offered.
A look at the Samsung foldable competitor that never came to be
The LG Rollable has a 6.8-inch POLED display when used as a regular smartphone, but the panel can extend from one side to offer a 7.4-inch viewing area.
The device is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset and 12GB of RAM. It has 256GB of storage and a 4,500mAh battery. It weighs 285 grams, so it's only marginally heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Although the device doesn't have as many cameras as the Z Fold 4 or a secondary display, the rollable action is motorized, which probably explains the phone's weight.
Equally impressive is the UI. The software looks quite capable and complete. The UI can adapt between the two screen sizes on the fly, and even the default wallpapers included with the phone are able to animate and stretch out when switching between phone and tablet modes.
The LG Rollable will never hit the market, but it's without a doubt one of the best examples of a rollable device using foldable display technology. It could've rivaled Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip or Z Fold series, but as it stands, it merely serves as a reminder of what could've been and a preview of what Samsung's future rollable phones might offer.
Check out the video below and let us know what you think. Should Samsung pursue this type of design? Would you be more willing to buy a rollable rather than a foldable phone?
