New LG patent shows rollable smartphone/tablet concept

The folks at LetsGoDigital have uncovered a new LG patent that reveals a device that is even more radical than the foldable smartphones we expect from the likes of LG itself, Samsung and others in 2019. One concept ties the two form factors together, however; delivering a device that can be compact, but pack a larger display at the same time. The would-be LG device takes this idea to the extreme by delivering a device that can be both ultra-compact but can unroll to offer a much larger display than even a foldable smartphone.

As you can see from the illustrations below, the device in its most compact form would comfortably fit into a hand grip. It also incorporates a second display that shows the date, time and battery life at a glance, or can be swiped to reveal other information or show notifications at a glance. The main rollable display can work when partially opened or when fully opened. This gives the user a wide range of use case scenarios that include full multitasking capabilities.

If you’re thinking that this is too futuristic to see the light of day, think again. LG revealed a TV with a rollable display at CES earlier this year and has plans to launch it as the LG ROLED during the course of 2019. Bringing the patent concept to life for a shipping mobile device might take a little while longer to realize, if not only for the reason that it would necessitate significant software customization. But the patent gives a timely glimpse into the next likely evolution of the smartphone/tablet to follow the wave of folding smartphones looming on the horizon.

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