Samsung Electronics is accelerating the development of a rollable-screen smartphone as it prepares for a future commercial launch [1].
The move signals a strategic shift to maintain dominance in the next-generation form-factor market. By moving beyond foldable screens, Samsung aims to provide significantly more screen real estate without compromising the device's portability or structural integrity.
During a product briefing in London on June 23, 2026 [2], company executives detailed the vision for the new hardware. No Tae-moon, president of the DX division, and Moon Seong-hoon, hardware VP for the MX division, discussed the technical trajectory of the project. The company is focusing on ensuring product completeness and ecosystem maturity before the device reaches consumers [1].
A primary draw of the rollable technology is the scale of the display. Samsung officials said the rollable phone screen is about 1.5 times larger than current foldable phones [1]. This expansion allows for a more immersive experience while the device remains compact when not in use.
Samsung first announced its research into rollable phones in 2026 [1]. While the company is pushing forward with development, leadership acknowledged that the path to market will not be immediate. Moon Seong-hoon said, "It will take a long time, but we are preparing for commercialization" [1].
The development process involves overcoming significant engineering hurdles. Unlike foldable screens that crease at a hinge, rollable displays must slide smoothly into a housing mechanism without degrading the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) material. This requires a sophisticated combination of flexible substrates, and motorized components to ensure the screen remains durable over thousands of cycles.
“The rollable phone screen is about 1.5 times larger than current foldable phones.”
The transition from foldable to rollable technology represents an attempt to solve the 'compromise' of current foldables, where users must choose between a bulky device or a screen with a visible crease. If Samsung can successfully commercialize a rollable display, it establishes a new industry standard for multitasking and media consumption, potentially forcing competitors to pivot their hardware roadmaps to keep pace with the increased screen-to-body ratio.
