SEOUL – LG Electronics has unveiled the world’s first rollable smartphone at the CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics and technology expo, leading the competition for the next form factor showcase in the mobile device market, following the success of Samsung Electronics ’flexible smartphones.
LG released a five-second teaser scene, featuring a smartphone with the display being rolled out to expand as the case slips up at Monday’s digital display. The company said the product will be launched later this year.
“Our management wanted to show that it was a real product, as there were a lot of rumors surrounding the rollable phone,” said Ken Hong, a spokesman for LG. “As it is released at CES 2021, I can say it will be launched this year.”
An industry source familiar with the matter has confirmed that LG is working with China’s BOE Technology Group to make rollable displays. Rollable display is based on flexible electronic light emitting technology. BOE has introduced OLED displays to Huawei Technologies smartphones and since the end of last year they have started providing a few of these displays to Apple for iPhones used in aftersales screen repair services, dh. the Nikkei Asia.
“LG is developing the rollable smartphone with BOE,” the source said, requesting not to be named.
The BOE did not immediately respond to requests for the comment.
Market watchers say BOE should be happy with LG’s collaboration as it needs more smartphone buyers to consume OLED capacity that Huawei will no longer eat because of U.S. sanctions. against the Chinese company.
LG’s rollable display comes as the company’s smartphone industry is struggling to make money due to stiff competition from market leaders such as Samsung, Huawei and Apple. LG’s mobile communications division reported 148.4 billion ($ 135 million) operating losses in the third quarter, down from 161.1 billion won a year earlier.
Chinese TV giant TCL Technology Group also unveiled their rollable display technology at the CES. The company showed a video showing a female customer using a smartphone with a rollable display. Thiago Abreu, head of the X-Lab at TCL’s Industrial Design Center, said the rollable display will set a new standard for mobile devices.
According to British research firm Euromonitor International, TCL ranked third in the global flat panel TV market in 2019, with a share of 7.8%. Samsung was the market leader, with a share of 18.7%, followed by LG with 15.2%.
Additional commentary by Nikkei Asia staff writers Cheng Ting-Fang and Lauly Li in Taipei.