OPPO Explores Phone With ‘Infinitely Variable’ Display That Turns Into A Tablet
Image via OPPO
Phone manufacturers are always exploring the next innovation for smartphones. For OPPO, it is a handset with a rollable display.
OPPO showed off the ‘X 2021’ concept phone at its annual future tech expo. The gadget, which sports a standard 6.7-inch OLED display, has a clever trick—its screen can be rolled out to offer an overall display of 7.4 inches. It gives you the option to use it as a mini-tablet, and yet is small enough to slide into your pocket.
The display is achievable through the company’s rollable concept technology that makes the screen durable with no hard folding involved to eliminate any creases forming in the middle.
OPPO also emphasized on the durability and support structure behind the rollable display. A special two-in-one plate acts as a support for when the phone is extended or contracted. The flat plate features a surface of interlaced comb-like units behind the screen.
When the phone is extended into a tablet, the comb-like units expand to leave a certain number of “teeth” to support the center of the display, refraining it from collapsing inward.
“Two drive motors built into the handset generate a constant force output that is used to retract and extend the display,” an OPPO representative explained to Dezeen. “This design ensures that, as the display moves, stress is equally distributed. Even a sudden pull or push will not damage the display.”
OPPO also added a custom lamination for its screen—the warp track—to firmly protect the screen. Resembling a conveyor belt, it ensures that the OLED screen maintains its shape when rolled out.
Images displayed on the screen can adapt to various sizes thanks to high-precision sensors. The display is described as “infinitely variable,” which means that it can be set to different desired sizes for gaming or ebooks, as long as the sizes are within the device’s specs.
“Compared with the fixed screen size of a folding screen, the on-the-go adjustment of the rollable screen promises endless possibilities and can even enhance office productivity and entertainment experiences,” said OPPO.
“The phone automatically adjusts to full-screen viewing according to the size of the video, providing a more comfortable reading experience that's close to the size of a book and it can display a full, text message pop-up window while playing games without affecting the game screen,” the spokesperson added.
There is still no word on whether the concept will turn into a reality, so stay tuned.
Image via OPPO
Image via OPPO
Image via OPPO
[via Dezeen, cover image via OPPO]
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