Foldable smartphones have been around for quite some time now. They’ve gotten a lot better since their inception, but what about rollables? When are they coming? Well, according to a new tip, first rollable phones could launch in the second half of 2024.
First rollable phones could launch in the second half of 2024
Rollable smartphones could bring some competition for foldable devices, and also a breath of fresh air to the smartphone market at the same time. OPPO did announce a working rollable smartphone way back in November 2020, the OPPO X 2021.
That device never became available to purchase, as OPPO felt it was not ready. LG was close to announcing its first commercially-available rollable smartphone too, before the company’s mobile division got shut down.
We’re still waiting for the very first commercially-available rollable smartphone to arrive. Well, based on the info provided by Revegnus, a tipster, that will happen in the second half of next year. He actually highlights Chinese OEMs specifically in his tweet.
Chinese OEMs are allegedly scrambling to release new form factors
He claims that Chinese OEMs are scrambling to release new form factors, as Samsung is far ahead in terms of foldables. Well, in terms of foldable smartphone sales and market share, that is.
The tipster says that “it is highly likely that Chinese OEMs will release Slidable phones in the second half of next year”. He did not specifically mention any companies, but we presume many of them are working on it.
OPPO is obviously developing such a device, as some people expected the company to make one available thus far. OPPO’s sister companies, Vivo and OnePlus, are possibly doing the same, not to mention Huawei, Xiaomi, and HONOR, amongst others.
It’s always nice to see new form factors hit the market. They not only give consumers more options, but also make things more competitive, which usually results in better and cheaper products for consumers.