While most smartphones over the previous decade have had a similar design – Honor a flat rectangular shape – foldable phones have been developed in the last six years, but they are still failing to gain popularity. Currently, they have a relatively limited market share.
Rollable or flexible screens are another option for achieving a new design. LG unveiled its LG Rollable in 2020, and Oppo and Motorola have since pursued similar concepts. Honor appears to be entering this market as well, with a new patent outlining a rollable screen for a sliding phone, according to IT Home (via Neowin).
The patent, which was filed with China’s National Intellectual Property Office, outlines a “elastic beam structure” as well as a screen support structure. The goal is to enhance the user experience by minimizing bumps behind the screen.
In a word, the phone consists of two major components. One is immovable, while the other extends from one side, allowing it to morph from a rectangular phone to a tablet-style gadget.
Elastic beams are employed to link the two displays and ensure seamless operation. The patent for a “sliding screen support structure and electronic equipment” was approved on December 3.
Rollable phones have been offered as a potential future answer, as opposed to foldable phones, which are now dominating innovation. However, numerous obstacles persist.
Rollable displays are more difficult to flatten, and unrolling them takes longer than opening a foldable phone. Furthermore, the entire screen is prone to wear and tear, raising concerns about durability.
Still, we’d like to try one, and it’ll be interesting to see if Honor or a competitor is first to market (most likely in China).
