When LG releases the phone… Will China take the title of’world’s first’ rollable phone?

LG Electronics’ next-generation strategic smartphone’LG Rollable’ unveiled at the 2021 LG Press Conference, the world’s largest IT exhibition held online at 10 pm on the 11th, Consumer Electronics Show (CES). [영상 LG전자]

As LG Electronics goes into a full review of the phone business while showing the possibility of selling its smartphone business suffering from a ’10 thousand years deficit’, there are concerns that the title of’the world’s first rollable phone’ will eventually be lost to a Chinese manufacturer.

Previously, LG Electronics was expected to win the title of’the world’s first rollable phone’ by showing a teaser video of a rollable phone that is unfolded after the display is dried at the press conference of’Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021′, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition. However, on the 20th, less than ten days later, LG Electronics announced that “the accumulated deficit of the MC division so far is 5 trillion won” and that “We will fully review the direction of business operation”, and the fate of the rollable phone became uncertain.

Until now, LG Electronics has been competing with Chinese companies for the title of’the world’s first rollable phone’. On the day LG Electronics released the rollable phone video at CES 2021, the Chinese manufacturer TCL also showed its rollable smartphone concept product video. When you tap a smartphone with the size of a palm, which is close to a square, the screen is stretched upward and unfolded into a rectangular large screen.

Oppo unveiled the concept of the rollable phone’Opo X2021′ in a video at the’INNO DAY 2020′ conference that promotes its technology in November last year. The appearance is similar to LG Electronics’ rollable phone, and the screen automatically enlarges when you touch the right sensor.

Despite the disclosure of TCL and Oppo, foreign media evaluated LG Electronics’ rollable phones as’one level’ over Chinese products, and poured out expectations and favorable comments. Phone Arena, a media specialized in smartphones, said, “Although TCL and Oppo have unveiled the product concept, LG Rollable will become the world’s first commercialized rollable phone.” US IT media Cnet said, “It is difficult to say that TCL is still in the commercialization stage, but LG Rollable has been realized as a product.” Another US IT media The Verge said, “LG Electronics preoccupied the rollable phone brand.”

A rollable phone released by TCL at CES2021. [사진 TCL]

The key to winning is the launch of the rollable phone. Initially, LG Electronics was planning to introduce a rollable phone at the MWC held in March, but it is reported that the plan was revised as the MWC was delayed to June this year. Now, as the MC division is at a crossroads of existence, it is no longer possible to guarantee a release within this year. If LG Electronics sells its MC division, it cannot be ruled out that LG Rollable will not be available at all.

On the other hand, TCL is developing according to a plan to introduce a formal product within this year. Oppo did not reveal the exact timing of commercialization, but continued research and development, saying, “We will show it at an appropriate time.”

‘OpoX 2021’, a rollable phone released by Oppo in November 2020. [사진 오포]

Some observe that even if LG Electronics cleans up the MC division, it will choose a split-sell method that leaves only the R&D division and abandons the production division. It is a method that continues the prestige of premium smartphones such as Rollable, but gives up direct production. Famous tipster (information provider) Backcrypt said on Twitter on the 20th (local time) that “LG will release one device every year.” “LG Velvet’s successor strategy smartphones, Rainbow and Rollable, will soon It will be on the market.”

An official from LG Electronics said, “The MC division is fully reviewing with all possibilities open, and the rollable phone is still in development,” and said, “The goal is to be released within the year.”
Reporter Park Hyung-soo [email protected]