Devices by Samsung, LG and Lenovo flip, fold and roll in 2021

In 2021, some phones, TVs and laptops are digital contortionists.

LG rollable OLED TV

In 2021, phones can flip, fold and roll. Televisions can unravel from a soundbar. Laptops can turn into tablets and tablets can become phones.

The latest tech trend is to take a large display and make it smaller. It could be for aesthetic purposes or for convenience depending on the application. We’ll see more of this in 2021, whether we want to or not.

The ability to fold a display means we can carry a large screen in our pocket or handbag.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

Samsung was one of the first in this space with the Galaxy Fold smartphone. The Fold can morph into a 7.3-inch display, normally considered a tablet. You can then fold it in half to make a book.

Its 4.6-inch display on the outside certainly looks like a book cover. The Fold gives users access to two screens in various modes. Samsung’s versatile approach has been well received, however the hefty price has limited appeal to early adopters.

Samsung and Motorola last year indulged us in nostalgia by resurrecting the flip phone. It meant we could carry a smartphone with a 6.7-inch display that snapped shut for easy storage. A small display on the outside meant you could see notifications without opening the phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z-Flip

This new approach to an old design unfortunately carried a high price tag. I wondered why we needed a resurrected flip phone after testing both devices.

LG has shown us they can use magic to make a television disappear. In 2019, they demonstrated a 65-inch OLED display unrolling from a large soundbar and then rolling up. For those who live in a home with a beautiful view, you can place this television in front of a window and hide the display when you are not watching content.

LG rollable OLED TV

It’s something to really impress the neighbours with. While an OLED television is already a premium display and incredibly thin when wall mounted, the reaction when you unroll it from the soundbar will make anyone say “wow”. This incredible set has been offered only in South Korea. You need a cool $87,000 to buy it.

The unrolling TV will hopefully make its way to normal consumers over time, but will the price drop to broaden sales?

Lenovo has taken the laptop and confused us. They bill the Lenovo X1 Fold as the world‘s first foldable laptop, but our laptops already fold in half thanks to hinges.

Lenovo instead has taken a 13.3-inch display and make it foldable. You can use an on screen keyboard, or a supplied keyboard and touchpad placed neatly in its right place.

The X1 Fold can be used as a large tablet or as a relatively small laptop. It will find a market among those who travel to work on public transport and make use of both modes. However, this luxury carries a base $4,099 price tag.

Lenovo X1 Fold laptop

Rollable phones look like being next. These are phones that expand to become small tablets. The display unrolls from the side to create a larger display. We have already seen concepts of this from LG and Oppo. We expect to see a device of this type in market this year. However, consumers may need convincing to buy foldables and rollables.

Finally there’s Apple. It has demonstrated interest in this space and while it’s rarely the first to bring a major innovations like this to market, it may get consumers to pay attention.

A foldable iPad or iPhone Pro Max would pour gasoline on this technology trend that is still looking for a spark.

Geoff Quattromani is a tech commentator across radio, print, online and television. Check out his podcast “Technology Uncorked” for new information each week.