The Korean manufacturer was among the first to venture into the foldable smartphone space and, years later, we’ve reached seven generations (with a new one on the way). However we know Samsung’s ambitions well: during major tech events, the Asian giant often shows the fruit of its labor by bringing prototypes of unusual displays.
Behind the scenes, the company is reportedly at work on its next experimental smartphone: the new form factor should be rollable, i.e., a phone equipped with a rollable screen that rolls up on itself.
While awaiting official details, a recent patent shows what the design of this mysterious device might look like.
Samsung’s rollable smartphone? A patent hints at how its design could look
One of the latest rumors about the brand’s future novelties talks about the upcoming Galaxy Z TriFold 2, but the existence of a supposed rollable smartphone has also emerged. The extensible device would be based on the Slidable Flex panel: the prototype developed by Samsung Display is characterized by a rollable OLED screen, a flexible solution wrapped inside the device’s body around a small internal roller.
When the user activates the extension, a system of micro-guides pushes the screen outward, elongating it horizontally. The OLED panel unrolls from inside the chassis and slides sideways, increasing the visible surface.
To get an even clearer idea, you can check our in-depth look at OPPO X 2021, the Chinese brand’s rollable prototype.
Leaks about Samsung say that its first rollable will have a manual scrolling mechanism and a display extended to a whopping 7 inches. However, for the launch we will have to wait as rumors point to a window between late 2027 and early 2028.
The newly discovered patent could offer a first look at the device’s aesthetics. The filed sketches (turned into renders) show a panel that extends laterally, dragging with it the camera module as well.
The area would feature a triple sensor setup and the LED flash, with a vertical pill-shaped notch reminiscent of the current Galaxy S26 and Z Fold 7. Clearly, the patent does not represent a finished product, and it’s not guaranteed that the device shown will ever see the light. Still, we know Samsung is indeed looking at the rollable format and it could be one of the possible futures for the Galaxy Z family.
