LG Rollable: Demo emerges of cancelled Explorer Project prototype

LG has now exited the smartphone business, but videos of one of its final projects has emerged online. As far as we can tell, LG planned to release the V70 ThinQ, Velvet 2 Pro and Rollable, the second entry in its Explorer Project after the LG Wing. To recap, LG debuted the Rollable in January 2021 at CES, a few months before the company decided to release no new smartphones altogether.

So while the LG Rollable will no longer come to market, someone has obtained a prototype unit. For some reason, the original video has been set to private on YouTube. However, Checkout Tech has uploaded a short of the Rollable, embedded below. As the video shows, LG created a shortcut to activate the rolling mechanism, which appears to work smoothly and quickly.

Arguably, the device would have been well suited for Android 12L, an OS that is still without a public release for devices like the Z Fold3 and Surface Duo 2. Based on the video, LG has designed its UI to re-flow as the Rollable opens. Alternatively, it appears to be possible to set an expanded layout and only view a portion of the home screen when the Rollable is closed.

Additionally, the device's flexible AMOLED display could be used as a viewfinder for taking photos, akin to Huawei's wraparound foldable smartphones like the Mate Xs 2. It remains to be seen whether any OEM will release a rollable smartphone. Most recently, Samsung Display demonstrated prototypes, such as the Flex Slidable, but they seem no closer to release than the OPPO X 2021 did.

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