Oppo’s rollable smartphone concept shows the future isn’t only foldable

Oppo has shown off a concept smartphone with a rollable screen. The device, called the Oppo X 2021, was revealed during the company’s Inno Day 2020 event held in Shenzhen, China, and goes in a different direction to phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, by starting small and extending out into a larger screen. The Oppo X 2021 starts out with a 6.7-inch OLED screen and using a motorized system, the flexible display rolls out into a larger 7.4-inches, a movement initialized by a gesture on the side of the phone. Interestingly, it’s not an all-or-nothing system, and the screen can be extended out as much or as little as you like. The phone’s body hides the screen, motor, and all the usual smartphone technology. Oppo let local press get their hands on the phone, and many demonstrated the motor and the phone’s excited extending screen. A swipe on the side of the phone sets the motor in motion, and although it takes a few moments for the screen to stretch out, it’s smooth and quite mesmerizing. From the back of the phone, the seam between the two parts of the phone is angled, which gives the X 2021 a cool modern look. Exciting as it may be, the Oppo X 2021 is still a concept, and there’s no release schedule for the phone. It’s not the first of its kind we’ve seen either, with TCL Communications showing off a similar rollable phone concept in March. Oppo often shows off early concepts, and during its 2019 Inno Day event it revealed a prototype under-screen camera for smartphones. This has not found its way onto mainstream smartphones even a year after this, which gives you an idea of how far away the Oppo X 2021 phone may be from release. For now, if you want a smartphone that starts out small and becomes bigger, you can choose the foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, or the Huawei Mate XS. Rumors spread for years that Oppo itself would release a foldable smartphone, and although a concept was shown off in 2019, the device has never been officially announced. It’s not clear whether the Oppo X 2021 rollable phone will become something you can buy, despite the name teasing us into thinking it may arrive next year. If there’s one thing that causes many iPhone enthusiasts to look enviously at the world of Android smartphones, it’s the much wider array of designs and form factors available. While Apple refines its designs every few years, it has rarely done anything that most folks would consider radical. Perhaps the most significant departure from traditional smartphone designs has been the return to the foldable phones of yesteryear. Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 have piqued my interest more than ever, but even before those came along, there have been other handsets that have made me wish that Apple would think differently about its hardware designs. And while I don’t doubt Apple’s hardware for a foldable iPhone could be great, I think the real struggle lies with making iOS useful for a foldable.
Apple’s foldable plans Late last year, Google introduced Android 12L, its operating system optimized specifically for tablets and foldables. After years of neglect, Google showed it was finally taking the form factor seriously. The same went for Wear OS 3, with Google breathing new life into smartwatches. There’s just one problem for both. As of the time of writing, not one tablet, foldable, or smartwatch has been updated to either of these operating systems. Google has planned to overhaul how its smartwatch and tablet platforms work for the better, but the company’s rollout has undermined its ambitious plans.
Google’s lofty ambitions The promises of Android 13 are enough to get any Android user excited, but Oppo smartphone owners won’t have to wait to see what the next major update to the operating system has in store. The Find N is Oppo’s flagship foldable and already supports the Android 13 Beta 1 for users in China while the Find X5 Pro supports the first beta across the globe. Although it’s certainly exciting to have the chance to try out the Android 13 Beta on a regular smartphone, Google showcased the software update’s focus on tablets and foldables at the company’s I/O keynote yesterday. Specifically, the Find N was highlighted during the presentation and now owners will be able to see what the big deal is for themselves. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.