TCL shows concept of foldable smartphone with screen that rolls out to a 10″ tablet

TCL Mobile shows a video with renders of a new concept phone with a screen that folds and also rolls out into a 10″ tablet. The manufacturer calls this the Fold ‘n Roll concept. If and when the model goes into production, is not known.

When folded and folded, the phone has a 6.87″ screen and according to the renders the aspect ratio is about 17:9. By unfolding the screen, it turns into a screen with a diagonal of 8.85″ screen with a almost square aspect ratio. Then a portion of the screen can roll out, yielding a tablet with a diagonal of 10″ and a ratio of approximately 4:3.

For the concept, TCL combines its DragonHinge hinge technology with a roll-out OLED screen. OPPO, among others, previously showed a working prototype of a smartphone with such a roll-out screen. TCL has previously shown prototypes of screens that are foldable and deployable, but so far the company has not actually released any of those products.

TCL explicitly calls the Fold ‘n Roll a concept and at the presentation, the company says that it has ‘three dozen’ of concepts of foldable smartphones. Technical specifications have not been disclosed, except for the screen sizes. According to TCL, the product is in the ‘exploration phase’.

It is unknown whether the Fold ‘n Roll will actually be released. TCL does emphasize that it plans to release its first foldable smartphone this year. It is not yet clear which model that is and what its specifications are. TCL Mobile has been around for about a year and a half now. The smartphone manufacturer uses screens from its subsidiary TCL CSOT.