LG Electronics' Rolled-Up Phone That Was Cancelled Was Finally Revealed

JAKARTA - The global smartphone market is reminded of a "ghost project" that almost changed the direction of the industry. A teardown video from the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel shows in detail a mysterious device from LG Electronics that was never released to the public: the LG Rollable.

This device is not just a concept. In the video presented by Zack Nelson, it is clear that the LG Rollable is in the almost final stage before the South Korean company decided to leave the smartphone business in 2021.

"This is probably the best view we've ever seen of this device," Zack said in his video, referring to the condition of the device that is still functional even though it has been disassembled.

The LG Rollable takes a different approach to foldable phones. Instead of folding the screen, the device uses a flexible OLED screen mechanism that can "roll" out of the main body. The system works with a combination of two motors and a spring mechanism, allowing the screen to extend when needed and automatically go back in.

Another uniqueness appears when the screen is pulled back. Part of the screen will be hidden behind a transparent glass panel on the back, which then serves as a secondary screen. This feature can be used, for example, for camera previews or notifications - an approach that is considered more practical than the conventional foldable design.

In his direct testing, Zack even admitted that he preferred this concept to the book-style folding phone that is currently circulating in the market. "If I have to choose, I'll take this over any foldable," he said.

However, like other flexible screen technologies, the LG Rollable also has significant weaknesses in terms of durability. The plastic screen used is proven to be very vulnerable to scratches and pressure. Even so, this condition is not new, considering the initial generation of foldables also faced similar challenges before the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) technology developed.

Interestingly, even though the device has been disassembled to the internal components, the screen is still able to respond to touch and even trigger the screen expansion mechanism. Zack also managed to reassemble the device without any significant damage - an indication that LG's engineering design is mature enough.

The presence of the LG Rollable in a state of almost being ready for production raises a big question: what if LG doesn't get out of the smartphone market? In the midst of stagnation in design innovation in recent years, the rollable concept is considered to be the next leap after the foldable.

Until now, no manufacturer has actually released a commercially available rollable phone. A number of brands only display prototypes at technology events, without the certainty of mass production.

LG Rollable, which is now only a "barely born" technological artifact, shows that the future of smartphones may be closer than imagined - it's just that it was delayed by business decisions.