LG Rollable Teardown: Unveiling the Unreleased Prototype's Engineering
The LG Rollable, a highly anticipated smartphone prototype, was showcased at CES 2021 but never saw a commercial release due to LG's subsequent departure from the smartphone market. Despite its unlaunched status, some prototype units have become accessible, offering a rare glimpse into its design. Zack Nelson, from JerryRigEverything, performed a detailed teardown of one such device, providing insights into its complex internal mechanics and operational functionality.
Dynamic Display and Adaptive Software
The teardown highlighted the LG Rollable's core innovation: a dynamic display capable of both expanding and retracting. This transformation was notably accompanied by audible motor sounds, underscoring the mechanical action involved.
The device's software intelligently adjusted its interface and content, including video playback, to match the display's current state, showcasing a seamless user experience.
Furthermore, when the main display was in its retracted position, a section on the rear of the phone remained active. This rear display served multiple purposes, including showing widgets and enabling selfies through the main dual cameras, adding a layer of versatile functionality.
Inside the Rollable: Complex Mechanical Engineering
Nelson's detailed examination uncovered a highly sophisticated internal structure meticulously designed to manage the unique expanding display. This intricate mechanism relied on several key components working in concert.
Key Mechanical Components- Spring-loaded mechanical arms: Three distinct arms were identified. These were crucial for maintaining the uniformity of the display's surface as it expanded and retracted, ensuring a smooth, seamless screen. When not in use, these arms were engineered to retract neatly into the internal frame.
- Dual motors: Positioned strategically at the top of the device, these powerful motors were responsible for guiding the entire internal structure along a dedicated rail system, driving the display's movement.
- Zipper-like linkages: Identified as another critical element, these linkages are believed to play a vital role in preserving the display's curvature and structural integrity throughout its dynamic motion.
Prototype Specifications at a Glance
The prototype unit showcased a competitive set of specifications for its time:
- Primary Camera: A 64-megapixel sensor.
- Ultrawide Camera: A 12-megapixel sensor.
- Battery: A robust 4,500mAh capacity.
- Security/Power: A rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, ingeniously doubling as the power button.
Industry Perspective and Legacy
Despite numerous concepts for rollable phones presented by various companies, the LG Rollable prototype stood out as arguably the closest to commercial readiness before LG's eventual departure from the mobile sector. This made its unreleased status particularly noteworthy.
The broader smartphone industry, in the absence of rollable devices like LG's, has largely channeled its innovation into foldable phones as the primary alternative form factor for dynamic display technologies.