In January 2021, LG presented at CES with a unique product: the ‘LG Rollable’, a smartphone with a pop-up display. He demonstrated this very briefly and marked the beginning of a theoretical trend towards this amazing technology. Now someone has managed to demonstrate that this device works, and we have good news and bad news. The good news: it’s amazing to see him in action. Are they bad? We can never buy it.

LG Rollable created. A few hours ago they posted a video on the Geolite Research Institute’s YouTube channel (according to Google Translate) where they do both the unboxing and some first impressions of this model. In this video, the product looked completely ready to go on sale: the packaging and the handset itself don’t look like prototypes, but more like final versions that might have gone on sale before.

It’s hypnotizing to see him in action. 3:11 of the video. Really good things begin within minutes. At that time, the mobile (initially 6.8 inches) starts to turn on its screen with a tap gesture, making it a small format tablet with a very respectable 7.4 inches diagonal, allowing you to enjoy more and better content. This wrap-and-unwind method is almost magical in how well it works, and in just 3-4 seconds an action is completed, reminiscent of existing folding mobiles, but very different in mechanics.

he lacked nothing. This device would launch with a Snapdragon 888, 12GB RAM and 256GB capacity. It also had a 64 Mpixel camera and a 4,500 mAh battery. Back then in 2021 it was definitely competing with high-end mobiles on specs and would likely have a high price.

But we can’t buy. Unfortunately in April 2021, LG announced that it was closing its worldwide mobile division. Their bold and original offerings did not gel, and the firm (logically) preferred to focus on what worked for them and could make them profitable.

But roll-up screens survive. This device may not have hit the market, but the idea did not fall on deaf ears. LG has applied this to its special and very expensive televisions, and although folding screens are trying to gain a foothold today, the OPPO X 2021 has already shown us that other manufacturers can take the baton from LG. Motorola is among them, meanwhile, and it will be interesting to see if the option stands up to Samsung or Huawei’s offerings.

Image | Geoljite Research Institute