February 27, 2023, 12:04 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Current smartphones compete with increasingly powerful technology for buyers’ favor, but in terms of form and design, they all look quite similar. However, at MWC 2023, Motorola showcased a smartphone that stands out from the crowd. It features a rollable display. TECHBOOK was able to take a look at it on-site.
Motorola already has experience with extraordinary smartphones. For example, the company offers the Razr, a foldable smartphone reminiscent of old flip phones. The model is now even in its third generation. At the Mobile World Congress, Motorola takes it a step further by presenting a smartphone with a rollable display. The name: Motorola Rizr.
Motorola Rizr – Display rolls out to 6.5 inches
The device is still a prototype. However, it is already developed enough that the concept and functionality of the new smartphone with a rollable display are clearly recognizable. The Motorola Rizr utilizes flexible POLED displays (Plastic OLED), which are also the basis for many foldable smartphones on the market. Unlike them, the display on the Motorola Rizr rolls over the housing and extends when desired. This allows the available display area to be increased to 6.5 inches despite the compact housing dimensions of the smartphone.
The display can be rolled out either by pressing a button or automatically in certain application situations. For example, when users open the email program, the display extends automatically to provide more space for writing. The screen content adjusts accordingly, so all elements are visible at any size.
When the display of the Motorola Rizr is retracted, it bends around the lower edge of the housing. Thus, the device not only has a screen on the front but also a small display area on the back. At the top of this area is a dual camera. In combination with the camera and the rear display, users can take selfies with the main camera. Alternatively, the Motorola Rizr also has a well-hidden front camera. To reveal it, the display must be rolled slightly further onto the back, exposing a narrow strip of housing at the top of the front.
When will the Motorola Rizr be released?
Details about the exact technical specifications of the Motorola Rizr are not yet known. It is also unclear if and when the smartphone will hit the shelves. It is possible that it will remain a prototype and serve merely as a precursor for future smartphones with rollable displays.
At MWC, Motorola not only showcased the Rizr to demonstrate the new technology but also presented a notebook with the same technology. In this case, the extended display rolls out from under the keyboard.