LG: this foldable smartphone removes the creases from the screen, the expected revolution?

The 21-page patent details a device that rolls up, is extremely flexible and adapts to different sizes. Sketches show this concept and the screen expansion possibilities.

A magnetic system to remove screen creases

LG had previously worked on an extendable screen smartphone called LG Rollable before abandoning the idea. Despite this failure, his patent is still updated. In 2022, video of a prototype appeared online and showed a screen that grew from 6.8 to 7.4 inches via a motorized mechanism. The panel was roll-up OLED technology with a notification display on the back, a Snapdragon 888 SoC, 12 GB of RAM and a 4,500 mAh battery.

If concerns about screen creases and its durability have emerged, LG's patent filed provides a solution. At least, on paper. But how did the Korean company do it?

The patent shows an innovative system: a magnetic sheet is placed on the back of the screen and magnets are integrated into the frame of the device. The magnetic force helps smooth out creases so the screen returns to shape quickly.

A return to the telephone market?

This patent filing, however, raises questions in terms of chronology. LG abandoned its foldable smartphone in February 2021 but a video was still published in September 2022. Then, there was an update to the patent in October 2023 then a year later, in October 2024.

So what is happening at LG to make this patent come back? A comeback on the telephone market with an innovative foldable smartphone? Remember that this does not mean that such a device will see the light of day, the Korean company protects its ideas, and therefore its interests.