Five years after LG announced its complete withdrawal from the smartphone market, a prototype of the unreleased LG Rollable has surfaced in a teardown video by the popular tech creator JerryRigEverything. The device serves as a testament to LG’s final efforts to turn its mobile business around through innovation, while simultaneously highlighting why rollable phones ultimately failed to go mainstream.
A Complex Mechanical Interior
The LG Rollable prototype is nearly identical to the version showcased at CES 2021. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary smartphone, but a sliding gesture triggers internal motors that unfurl the display hidden within the chassis, increasing the screen area by approximately 40%.
The teardown reveals that the expansion process relies on two micro-motors. These motors drive a gear system along internal tracks, while the display assembly locks into the frame using a zipper-like mechanism. Because the motors generate noticeable mechanical noise during operation, LG engineers even programmed a specific sound effect to mask the whirring.
Beyond the motor drive, the interior features a spring-loaded mesh support system designed to keep the OLED panel flat as it extends. The motherboard and battery are housed on a tray that expands and contracts with the width of the device—a highly integrated design that significantly drives up manufacturing complexity and costs.
While foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold have successfully reached the consumer market, the structural complexity of a rollable device is on another level. Industry analysts point out that this intricate mechanical linkage not only inflates production costs but also presents daunting durability challenges.
The unit featured in the teardown retains its raw engineering roots, complete with exposed screws and a bulky frame. Thanks to this design, creator Zack Nelson was able to disassemble and reassemble the device entirely without causing damage. The video offers the public a rare window into LG’s final, bold technological gamble before exiting the mobile industry for good.
