TL;DR
- Before LG closed its smartphone division, it had one last trick – the prototype LG Rollable phone.
- LG’s rollable prototype is out in the open after two YouTube videos showing a teardown of the device and a look at the hands-on specs.
- It turns out that the LG Rollable was a more mature prototype than we expected, complete with software tricks, sound effects and animations.
The downfall of LG’s smartphone division It was no surprise to Android fans, but it was certainly disappointing. LG had a knack for creating risky and innovative Android phones that no other brand could compete with – one of their last phones. rotating screen LG Wing. It’s easy to wonder what could have been, and thanks to a few tech YouTubers, we don’t have to.
Zack Nelson of JerryRigEverything the canceled LG has ripped off a rollable phone prototype in a video earlier this month, and now Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) is sharing his handiwork YouTube video. Nelson shocked the Android community by successfully disassembling and reassembling the LG Rollable prototype, but what would it be like to actually use it on a daily basis? Brownlee gives us a taste of what we can expect from the LG Rollable if it were to actually hit the market.
Instead of using a foldable display, LG Rollable opts for a curved flexible OLED that slides with the help of internal motors. The standard 6.7-inch screen expands to a nearly 7.5-inch panel with a simple swipe, and since displays are measured diagonally, it feels larger than that. Under the hood are two gear motors that work with spring arms to open and close the phone, which can be rolled up with simple gestures.
As a proof of concept, Brownlee shows the LG Rollable using the power of its motors to move the laptop, which is certainly impressive.
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MKBHD shows that a three-finger swipe expands or retracts the slideable screen, but that’s not all. A sound effect plays every time the phone is opened or closed, presumably to mask the sound of a motor running behind the curtain. If you open the phone rolling from the lock screen, you will see the default wallpaper change to an attractive animation that looks like a blooming flower. Between the sound effects and wallpaper animations, it’s easy to think that the LG Rollable is closer to mass production than we know.
When fully assembled, the drop-down display is partially hidden behind a clear glass case on the back. This means that the LG Rollable actually has a rear display that can show things like the camera, calendars, timers, and content playing when the screen is at its most compact. For example, one can use the 64-megapixel main camera or the 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the back as a selfie shooter with the rollable screen closed.
The rotatable form factor forced LG to get creative. Since both sides of the LG Rollable have curved parts of the screen, there is no room for traditional buttons on them. Instead, the volume rocker is capacitive using the screen itself, and the power button oddly lives below the rear camera arrangement.
The software also looks polished. Apps like Settings appear in a two-column layout when the LG Rollable is extended, and automatically switch to a condensed view when the device is closed.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether it will be an alternative to the foldable. The answer seems to be yes, but if you’re hoping for a wrinkle-free device, you’ll end up disappointed. Brownlee points out that the LG Rollable has screen wrinkles that are visible when unfolded, even though they are less noticeable than modern foldables. There may be those hoping for a new curved screen concept Enjoy Samsung Display’s sliding phone at MWC 2026.
Is the LG Rollable the game changer it never was or just another gimmick? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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