Remember the LG Rollable? It was a highly anticipated rollable phone that LG teased at CES 2021 before the company decided to exit the smartphone industry. It likely would’ve been the first (and, at this point in 2026, the only) rollable phone commercially available to consumers.
Well, despite the phone never launching, some people managed to get their hands on it. While we’ve seen the phone in action, Zack Nelson of JerryRigEverything went a step further and took it apart to reveal the inner workings of this rather unique phone.
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LG Rollable teardown reveals all
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The hands-on with the LG Rollable shows Nelson expanding and retracting the display, which plays a whimsical sound over the rather loud sound of the motor underneath. The software intelligently adjusts based on the display state, even when watching videos, which will enlarge when the display is expanded. Meanwhile, the back of the phone would display a usable section of active display when the phone is retracted, which can be used to display widgets and even take selfies with the main dual cameras
Nelson points out zipper-like linkages, which are likely responsible for keeping things together along the device’s curve, while also showing how strong the motors are by having the phone push items such as a large book. Ultimately, these are the things we want to see, and Nelson gets to work carefully taking the phone apart.
What’s revealed is a unique internal structure consisting of three spring-loaded mechanical arms that help keep the display uniform when expanding or retracting and tuck into the internal frame when not in use. Meanwhile, dual motors at the top push the internal structure along a rail, with Nelson calling the phone “overengineered” while still marveling at its innovation.
Other specs include a 64MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 4,500mAh battery that would make even the Galaxy Z Fold 7 jealous. There’s also a rear fingerprint sensor that doubles as the power button, something I wish were still more common on smartphones.
Other companies have shown off rollable concepts, but none seemed to have come as close to launching one as LG, instead focusing on foldable phones. Still, it would’ve been interesting to see how different things might’ve been if rollable phones had hit the scene back in 2021, giving consumers an alternative form factor to choose from.
Let us know in the comments what you think of the LG Rollable and if you would’ve bought one.
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