Samsung has a secret display lab where the future of smartphones is being built — and for the first time, the press got to see inside. I visited that lab, and the company demonstrated phone concepts that roll, slide, and expand beyond today's familiar foldable form factor. The visit underscores Samsung's race to redefine mobile design after its Galaxy Z Fold series.
Samsung dominates the foldable phone market with the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip, but competitors like Oppo, Huawei, and LG (before exiting) have shown rollable prototypes. Samsung's lab reveals what's next: devices that aren't just foldable but physically morph in shape and size.
The concepts included a rollable phone with an expandable screen that unfurls from a compact body, a sliding phone with a hidden secondary display that glides out, and a device that stretches to enlarge its screen. No timeline for release was given. The lab is where Samsung tests next-generation display technologies, often years before they reach consumers.
These Samsung future phone concepts signal that the company sees the future beyond folding — flexibility in multiple directions. However, challenges include durability (moving parts are more fragile), cost (these concepts require expensive custom components), and software adaptation (apps need to work on dynamically resizing screens). Industry analysts believe rollable phones could arrive commercially within 3-5 years, but Samsung may face competition from Chinese rivals pushing similar designs.
Looking ahead, Samsung will likely continue refining the concepts before any mass production. Key milestones to watch include patent filings with the US Patent and Trademark Office, partnerships with display manufacturers (Samsung Display is an in-house advantage), and potential product launches around 2025-2026. The concepts shown in the secret lab are a clear message: Samsung is not resting on its foldable laurels. The future smartphone may not just fold — it may roll, slide, and expand in your hand.
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Beyond the Galaxy Z Fold: Samsung's Future Phone Concepts That Roll, Slide and Expand
I visited Samsung's secret display lab to see what our future smartphones could look like. It was the first time the press has been allowed in.
Abrar Al-Heeti
CNET
2 min read
6/10
Key Takeaways
- Samsung gave the press its first-ever access to its secret display lab, revealing three phone form factors: rollable, sliding, and expanding.
- The rollable concept extends a flexible display from a compact body, potentially offering a screen size similar to the Galaxy Z Fold without the crease.
- The sliding phone hides a secondary display underneath the main screen, pulling out to reveal additional surface area.
- No commercial release date was announced; Samsung expects these concepts to take 3-5 years before reaching consumers due to durability and cost hurdles.
- Samsung dominates the global foldable market with 65% share (as of Q4 2023), but faces increasing competition from Chinese brands like Oppo and Techno.
Frequently Asked Questions
Samsung showed three future phone concepts: a rollable phone with an expandable screen, a sliding phone with a hidden secondary display, and an expanding device that stretches to enlarge the screen. These go beyond the traditional foldable form factor.
Samsung has not announced a release date for any rollable, sliding, or expanding phone. Industry analysts estimate these concepts could reach consumers in 3-5 years, pending advances in durability and cost reduction.
A rollable phone uses a flexible display that rolls up inside a compact cylindrical housing. When the user wants a larger screen, the display unrolls and extends outward, increasing the screen size without a visible hinge or crease.
Yes, Samsung demonstrated a sliding phone concept in its secret lab. The device has a main display that slides sideways to reveal a secondary hidden screen, providing extra space for multitasking without increasing the phone's folded size.
Samsung invited press to its secret display lab to showcase its long-term vision for mobile displays and reaffirm its leadership in flexible screen technology. It was the first time journalists were allowed inside the lab.
Key challenges include ensuring durability of moving parts, preventing display creasing or damage, managing heat dissipation, developing software that adapts to dynamically changing screen sizes, and keeping manufacturing costs low enough for mass production.
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