Five Years Later, LG Rollable Teardown Reveals Engineering Marvel

Five years after LG exited the smartphone market, the unreleased LG Rollable has been dissected in a full teardown revealing sophisticated engineering.

“This past weekend was the 5-year anniversary of the death of LG’s smartphone business, and yet, we’re just now seeing a new look at the company’s unreleased “Rollable” that makes it more clear than ever before just how ready this device was”

9to5Google

Unlike foldables that hinge a screen, the LG Rollable uses a motorized mechanism to expand the display horizontally from 5.5 inches to 7.5 inches.

9to5Google

The mechanism is powered by two geared motors running along a rack system, assisted by spring-loaded arms to keep the OLED panel even.

The display unrolls from the back of the device where it slides beneath a glass panel that doubles as a rear display.

LG incorporated dust-blocking bristles to keep debris out of the mechanism.

The motorized mechanism proved robust, capable of moving two textbooks with ease during testing.

The device received ratings for 200,000 expansion cycles signaling confidence in reliability.

Android Authority

The screen uses a soft plastic layer with ultra-thin glass underneath on the expandable portion.

Motors produce noticeable noise requiring a musical chime to mask it.

The handset's software integration allowed display adaptation and animated wallpapers.

LG's shutdown interrupted a streak of bold hardware innovation.

“LG was once a heavyweight in the smartphone industry, trading blows with hometown rival Samsung”

Ars Technica

The Atlantic Council described the broader context of shifting from capability degradation to regime change.

The Rollable represents a path not taken in the smartphone debate.

Its design still feels cleaner and more practical in many ways.

The device was reassembled and powered on after the teardown.