OPPO Unveils next-gen “rollable” screen
“A new era of screens”
Courtesy: Oppo
Oppo X 2021 Announced
First smartphone to include a rollable screen
Screen size increases from 6.7-inches to 7.4-inches
Smoothly transitioning GUI
122 patents filed to highlight the inclusion of new and unique elements
Oppo’s new rollable smartphone concept is the result of years of crazy ideas that reimagined what a smartphone could look like. For years there have been viral “Future iPhone Concept” videos on YouTube. One of the most famous being a rollable iPhone. Now, it seems like the concept creators might have been right about smartphones of the future! As far as the technology that is, not the company…
When Samsung announced the Galaxy Fold in 2019, it was considered revolutionary with its shocking foldable screen technology. But, it had and still suffers from a noticeable crease in the screen center. Well, Oppo rolled in (pun intended!) with a futuristic solution.
On Oppo’s INNO Day 2020 Event, they announced the Oppo X 2021 Concept Phone. It uses a “Roll Motor” to increase the size of the concept phone’s display from 6.7-inches up to 7.4-inches, all with just the touch of a button. But, that’s not all. As the screen rolls out, the GUI (Graphical User Interface) adapts to the change in size effortlessly, something that other foldables have struggled with.
“OPPO uses technology to empower people to capture the beauty around them and to unleash their imagination of the future; thereby helping everyone get the best out of life.”
Design & Patents
The phone uses two motors to unfurl the screen without putting too much stress on the delicate architecture. Oppo has also included an interlocking backplate to improve the phone’s strength and rigidity when rolled out. On top of that, the X 2021 uses a “frame-within-a-frame” design that allows important components (like the battery) to stay in place without creating huge gaps for dirt or other particles to get inside - something which Samsung tackled by including tiny bristles in the Z Fold 2’s hinge.
And there’s more! To help protect that delicate rollable screen, Oppo created, “Warp Track”, a durable laminate designed to increase durability, something similar to Samsung’s ultra-thin glass (UTG). Oppo says it has filed for a whopping 122 patents, with 12 of those originating from their Roll Motor and scrolling mechanism, among many others. Oppo’s hardware structural engineer Jin Xiang said that the OPPO X 2021 has been tested rigorously for 100,000 curls, so 50 times a day shouldn't be a problem. It can be used for five years, and over 100,000 times.
The #OPPOX2021 rollable OLED screen:
— OPPO (@oppo) November 17, 2020
⚙️ Proprietary roll motor powertrain
🛡️ 2-in-1 plate
✨ Warp Track high-strength screen laminate#OPPOINNODAY20 pic.twitter.com/VXvPgMKuB1
OPPO X 2021 pic.twitter.com/dLUSQ2jwb0
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 17, 2020
Oppo’s VP Levin Liu says that he wants to release this piece of future “at the right time”. This vague answer reflects the reality of the phone, it’s a concept. And, concept phones don’t have a track record of being released. But, Leaksters have tipped the possibility of the phone arriving as soon as 2022. Good news for early adopters with a bit of extra cash!
Conclusion:
This is something the tech world has been waiting for - a product that redefines what a smartphone is. It has the capability to revolutionize the smartphone market, and, potentially create a market of its own! The foldable phone category has been the topic of a lot of future tech debates. And now, we have a new competitor in the market
This device definitely checks a lot of boxes for an industry shifting innovation. But, just like every new kind of smartphone technology, we aren’t sure about its availability, adoption rate, durability, ease of use, price, etc. It would be awesome to see Oppo live up to its promises about the X 2021’s. Great durability and usability (something Samsung failed at in 2019 with the original Fold) would skyrocket its adoption rate. We wouldn’t mind if this was the future… Bring it on 2021!
OnePlus is known for being a company that creates phones to “kill” big brand name flagships. And, the OnePlus 9T would be no different! But, with the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro already being great phones, some tech enthusiasts are questioning the need for a phone in the middle.