As a result, we could see slidable phones developed and released by the phone manufacturers headquartered in China as a way to compete with Samsung’s foldables. Last month, during the Lenovo Tech World event, Motorola displayed a rollable concept phone that expands from 4-inches to 6.5-inches. “Chinese smartphone makers may seek to launch slidable phones in an attempt to differentiate themselves from Samsung,” Yi said, “But the market potential seems limited.”
LetsGo Digital render of a Samsung rollable based on a patent filing
Yi points out that while foldable displays have been improved over the last few years, slidable displays have more “cons” than “pros.” Displays for slidable phones are covered with a polyimide film for protection, but this film can have an effect on the surface quality of the display. And the analyst also notes that “For consumers who are familiar with folding phones like a book, sliding the screen may feel more complicated. For the same reason, the slidable display is unlikely to be used for laptops. But for tablet PCs, the entry barrier seems lower than other devices.”
