Samsung’s roll-screen mobile phone is exposed, creating a new form ahead of Huawei and Apple, and folding screens are expected to be eliminated

Currently, the mobile phone industry only has two forms: straight screen and folding screen. Even if it is three-fold or four-fold, it is essentially just a folding screen. The latest news shows that Samsung plans to launch the world’s first mass-produced “scroll screen” mobile phone form factor, which will subvert the traditional candy bar and folding screen designs. It can switch from 16:9 to 21:9 forms and eliminate the backward design of folding screens.

Blogger Bing Universe broke the news overseas that Samsung is developing a display screen that can be expanded from 16:9 to 21:9 ratio. The former is a wide-screen design, while the latter is a mainstream slender design, taking into account two different shapes, allowing users to adjust them freely. If this phone can be launched normally, it should attract the attention of consumers. However, the battery capacity is quite a challenge, and the internal sliding mechanism takes up a lot of space. It may not have a good battery life when unfolded, and there are certain limitations in daily use.

Judging from the leaked information, Samsung’s scroll screen is trying to achieve compatibility in a new form. In the normal retracted state, the screen ratio is similar to that of Huawei’s wide straight panel. The screen is wider and suitable for one-handed control. In the expanded state, it is more in line with the conventional screen ratio of the current candy bar machine and displays more vertical content. A mobile phone has two forms. If released, it will definitely become a hit, and many manufacturers in the industry may follow suit.

It should be noted that scroll screens are not a new concept. Similar products were launched in the industry a few years ago. Brands such as LG, OPPO, Transsion, and Lenovo have all launched roll-screen concept phones. Domestic users should be most familiar with the OPPO X2021 scroll screen, which was a concept machine demonstrated at the OPPO Future Technology Conference. According to supply chain news, OPPO had planned to release this phone in 2021 or 2022. However, due to various reasons, the phone failed to go into mass production.

OPPO X2021 adopts a flexible scroll screen design. It is a 6.7-inch screen in normal state and can be expanded to a maximum of 7.4-inch screen. It can achieve infinite adjustment between the two. The design concept of this product is many years ahead, and it also switches between regular ratio and wide screen ratio. There is a motor inside the fuselage that is automatically driven and can be controlled through the side buttons. OPPO has applied for 12 patents for this.

As a new product design with a strong sense of technology, there are many reasons why it cannot be put into mass production. The first is that the scroll screen is too fragile. Folding screens can use thicker UTG glass as protection, while scroll screens need to shrink the screen inward, making the screen softer and easier to damage. In addition, the motor, gears, and slide rails are extremely precise. Even if some dust enters, the entire machine may be scrapped. In terms of practicality, there are a large number of mechanical components inside, and the battery capacity cannot guarantee normal use life.

The most critical thing is the cost. The early BOM price of OPPO X2021 exceeds 20,000 yuan. Mass production must sell for at least 30,000 yuan to recover the cost, and the sales volume must be at least tens of thousands of units. With OPPO’s influence in the industry, even if this scroll screen is released, it is unlikely to make a return on investment, and it will not be officially released to consumers.

Compared with OPPO, Samsung has greater industrial chain integration and stronger global visibility. Once the product is officially released, the new form can guarantee a higher premium. When Samsung launches a scroll screen, even if the price is more than 30,000 yuan, it should be able to sell more than 100,000 units, at least ensuring that there is no problem in repaying the cost. Samsung can also use its new form to get ahead of Huawei and Apple, proving its influence and innovation capabilities in the Android camp. The product is expected to be officially released as soon as 2027.