What you need to know
- LG is said to be targeting an early 2021 release for its first rollable smartphone.
- The company's rollable smartphone project is apparently called Project B.
- China's BOE is co-developing the display panel for the rollable smartphone with LG.
LG, which has stayed away from the foldable phone space, could be among the first companies to launch a rollable smartphone.
According to a report from The Elec, the company's rollable smartphone project is called Project B, named after CEO Kwon Bong-seok. LG is said to be planning to release the smartphone early next year and has already started production of the first prototype at its facility in Pyeongtaek.
Surprisingly, the display panel for the rollable smartphone isn't being developed by LG Display. As per the report, Chinese display maker BOE is working together with LG to develop the phone's rollable display panel. Thanks to the rollable display, LG's Project B will allow users to extend the display when needed. While foldable displays are subject to consistent pressure at a small area, rollable displays can apparently dissipate the pressure over a wider area.
LG isn't the only company that is working on rollable smartphones. TCL showcased its rollable phone concepts earlier this year, including a trifold device. Samsung too is rumored to be developing a rollable slider phone.
While LG hasn't showcased a rollable phone prototype yet, it did launch its first rollable OLED TV at CES 2020. The rollable Signature Series OLED TV R is expected to go on sale later this year for a whopping $60,000.
In addition to Project B, LG is also tipped to be working on a flagship phone codenamed Rainbow for the first half of 2021.
