LG registers new rollable smartphone patent, raising questions about a return

Two years after exiting the smartphone market, LG is working on a rollable phone. The new patent from LG Display hints at the company's potential return, though a comeback remains uncertain.

 LG logo (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
LG logo
(photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Two years after exiting the smartphone market, LG may not have said its final word. A new patent filed this week reveals that LG Display, the company's display division, is continuing to develop a revolutionary rollable phone. The patent outlines a device with a flexible screen that unfolds like a conveyor belt, allowing the phone to adjust its size according to needs—from a compact device to the size of a tablet.

However, it's unclear if LG will return to the smartphone market. It's possible that LG Display is developing these rollable screens for other companies, such as Huawei, HONOR, OPPO, or Motorola. In recent years, several rollable concept devices have been revealed by companies like Tecno and Motorola, although none of them have reached the market yet. Rumors suggest that Samsung plans to launch a rollable phone in 2025.

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It's worth noting that LG already sells a rollable TV, the LG OLED TV R, which has been showcased at several CES events. Despite the new patent, estimates suggest that the chances of LG returning to the smartphone market are slim. The patent may be sold or licensed to other companies.