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LG's rollable phone teardown reveals flaws
7 Apr
Summary
- LG's planned rollable phone never launched commercially.
- Complex internal mechanics made the device costly.
- Durability concerns likely prevented its release.
LG's attempt to innovate in the smartphone market with a rollable phone in 2021 never materialized beyond prototypes. A recent YouTube teardown of the LG Rollable reveals the complex engineering behind this unreleased device, shedding light on why it never reached consumers. The phone was designed to expand its screen by approximately 40% using two small motors and a track system.
This innovative form factor relied on a lattice of spring-loaded arms to maintain screen integrity as it unfurled. However, the intricate mechanics, including motors and articulating components, made the device exceptionally overengineered. Such complexity would have led to extremely high manufacturing costs and a prohibitive price tag for consumers.
Beyond cost, durability posed a significant challenge for the LG Rollable. The numerous moving parts and the flexible screen looping around the back presented numerous points of potential failure. This vulnerability, coupled with the high expense, likely led LG to shelve the project permanently, contributing to their exit from the smartphone industry.
LG explored various concepts before deciding to exit the smartphone business. The rollable phone, alongside other experimental designs like the Wing with its rotating screen, represented the company's final efforts to stand out. Despite the advanced engineering, the rollable concept was too fragile and expensive, a fate shared by similar rollable concepts from other manufacturers.
