Skip to main content

LG’s next rollable OLED TV could expand sideways

There are a number of exciting technologies on the home theater horizon, but few feel as futuristic (or as cool) as rollable OLED TVs. LG has been teasing this tech since 2018, and its OLED R (aka ROLED) TV turned sci-fi dreams into reality when in hit the market late last year (at least, for those who had the $87,000 to spare). With LG’s much-publicized investment in OLED, and with flexibility being one of the biggest differentiators between OLED and other TV technologies, the company continues to work feverishly to get the most out of the tech. So we weren’t surprised earlier this month when we heard that the South Korean manufacturer received a patent from the World Intellectual Property Organization for a different sort of rollable OLED, one that unfurls horizontally instead of vertically (like the ROLED).

A diagram showing an LG patent for a rollable OLED TV.
LG/WIPO

The patent document, spotted first by LetsGoDigital.org, shows that when rolled up, this model will resemble a stand-up speaker, with the screen wrapped around a pair of vertical columns that extend outward from the base. The idea is to create an even lower profile for the TV when it’s not in use. Since this is a concept and not a working model, however, we don’t yet know what size display this tech can support, or even if LG will manufacture a TV using this idea any time soon. For what it’s worth, the ROLED checks in at 65 inches, and there’s no reason to think that this concept couldn’t support a screen of similar dimensions.

Recommended Videos

Razer, TCL, and a number of other manufacturers are also racing to take advantage of rollable OLED tech, but LG seems to have a leg up on its competitors for the time being. We reported on its “smart bed” semi-transparent TV concept in January and, all in all, the company just seems more committed to this space than everyone else right now. If this is the future of the TV market — and LG is banking on it being just that — it will be well-positioned as it vies for space in your living room.

For the time being, the price point is the main hurdle for the company to clear; there simply aren’t enough consumers who are willing and able to fork over close to $100,000 for a TV. If these sorts of displays do become more affordable, however, we’re betting that they’ll be here to stay. Besides being objectively cool, collapsible screens are actually pretty practical, if only because they take up less space and are easier to move.

We’ll keep you updated if LG ever puts its patent into practice, but if you want to see what the market for ultrathin displays looks like today, check out our list of the world’s thinnest televisions.

Adam Poltrack
Former Contributor
Adam is an A/V News Writer for Digital Trends, and is responsible for bringing you the latest advances in A/V…
Google TV could get a feature that helps you find your next weekend binge
The default Google TV homescreen, as seen on the Onn 4K Pro.

It looks like Google TV is about to get a makeover and a couple of new features, according to Adamya Sharma over at Android Authority. They dug into a beta build for Google TV and found hints in the code that suggest a new look, swapping the interface from grey to blue, and a section to help you find your next favorite binge-watch.

The most noticeable change is the interface. Its highlights shifted from grey to blue on the "Watch now" button and the "Connect TV" button, and Sharma reports that more changes could come in the form of a list of recent searches.

Read more
The four LG TVs everyone needs to know about
LG G5 OLED

The LG G5 OLED TV is getting a lot of attention -- and for good reason. It is undoubtedly a strong contender to become the best TV of 2025. However, it’s not the TV I will be recommending most to enthusiasts, and it's definitely not the LG TV I will be recommending to most people. The G5 is amazing, but LG has three other TVs worthy of your attention -- one of them you likely won’t see coming.

Here are the four banger TVs from LG that folks need to know about.
The bold C-series banger

Read more
LG provides pricing for the 2025 G5 and C5 OLEDs
An LG G5 OLED TV hanging on a wall in a bright living room.

Kicking off the 2025 OLED TV release schedule, LG has announced the pricing and availability for its two most popular TV series -- the premium-tier G5 and step down C5. Both TV series are historically on our best TVs list, and after seeing both of them in person last week for LG's reviewer workshop in New Jersey, we fully expect repeat performances.

The most notable improvement to LG's OLED technology is the move from a three-layer panel with MLA (micro lens array) to a four-layer panel structure. The four stack includes layers for each primary color -- one for red, one for green, and two for blue -- instead of two blue and a single red/green/yellow layer in the old design. The new G5 uses what LG calls Brightness Booster Ultimate technology with the 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch versions (the 97-inch G5 uses Brightness Booster Max) which is three times brighter than the B series and 45% brighter than the G4 OLED. That increase is not only on peak brightness, but full-field white brightness as well. At the reviewer's workshop, LG lined up the G5, G4, and two top-tier competitors from last year to show off the brightness improvements on the G5, and the results were pretty remarkable.

Read more