Samsung has filed new patents for rollable and sliding phone designs, signaling continued exploration beyond traditional foldables.
The concepts, spotted by WearView, aim to offer larger screens without the bulk of current foldable devices.
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Two distinct rollable concepts
The first design resembles a standard smartphone but expands horizontally when pulled, providing a wider screen for multitasking, gaming, or video playback.
It combines the portability of a regular phone with the larger canvas of a foldable.
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The second concept is more radical: in its compact form, the display is entirely hidden inside the device body.
Pulling the sides slides the screen outward, revealing a larger panel. Samsung notes this design protects the flexible screen from scratches and impacts when not in use.
The patents also describe sensors that detect how far and how quickly the display extends, allowing the software interface to adapt dynamically to screen size and orientation.
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While these are still patents, Samsung Display has previously shown rollable and slidable OLED prototypes at trade shows like CES and MWC, indicating ongoing interest in this form factor.
Rollable designs could address common foldable complaints such as visible creases and bulky hinges. However, engineering challenges like durability, moving parts, and battery space remain.
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It is unclear if consumers are ready for another new form factor as foldables only recently began gaining mainstream traction.
