After leading the foldable smartphone market for years, Samsung may now be working on a new kind of device with a rollable display. A newly discovered patent filing hints at the company’s next big experiment in smartphone design.
The patent, first spotted by WearView, shows a smartphone with a screen that can expand outward. The design also includes a movable rear camera module that shifts position as the display extends.
Patent sketches and concept renders shared by WearView reveal a cutout on the back panel. This space appears to hold the sliding camera system while the screen moves.
When the display stays inside the main body, the device looks similar to traditional flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, once the screen fully expands, the phone starts to resemble larger foldable devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7.
The patent also explains that the device may use sensors to detect hardware movement. These sensors could track changes in display size, antenna positions, and camera placement while the screen expands or retracts.
Samsung has already shown interest in rollable technology before. In 2023, the company presented a rollable OLED display prototype. Earlier, in 2021, Samsung filed another patent for a device that could both roll and fold.
Like many patent filings, this concept may never reach commercial production. Still, the latest filing suggests Samsung continues to test new ideas for future smartphones. The concept also shares similarities with devices like the Motorola Rizr and Tecno Phantom Ultimate.
