LG may be working on a rollable laptop whose screen stretches from a compact 13.3 inches to a spacious 17 inches, according to a patent application that has surfaced online. The filing also describes a foldable keyboard and touchpad, hinting at a highly portable design - though LG has not officially confirmed the device.
What the LG rollable laptop patent shows
As reported by Root My Galaxy, the patent describes a display that can unroll between 13.3-inch and 17-inch sizes, taking on the look of a soundbar when fully extended. Unusually for a laptop, the power button sits on one of the device's sides rather than next to the keyboard.
When rolled up, the design hides the webcam and relies on a thick display drum that can stand on its own - no kickstand or keyboard support required.
A foldable keyboard built for portability
LG also appears to pair the rollable screen with a keyboard and touchpad that fold in half. Despite the folding mechanism, the input hardware is shown at a standard size, which should keep typing comfortable.
LG's track record with rollable displays
LG has been developing rollable display technology for years. The company showcased an 18-inch rollable OLED panel at CES 2016, unveiled a 65-inch UHD OLED display in January, and used that progress to launch a rollable OLED TV last year. It is also rumored to be building a rollable smartphone - reportedly codenamed Project B and possibly branded the LG Rollable - that could arrive next year.
Rivals are chasing the same idea: Oppo recently unveiled its Oppo X 2021 concept phone with a rollable OLED display, and TCL has been experimenting with rollable screens too.
Is the rollable laptop actually coming?
For now, the details are unconfirmed. LG has not announced the product, and it is entirely possible the patent covers a concept rather than a commercial device. Treat the specifics as early signals rather than final specifications.
