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Towards the end of last month, we learned that LG was working on a unique smartphone with a roll-up screen as part of its Explorer Project. The device, codenamed Project B, was teased during the LG Wing launch, and is expected to hit the market in March next year. While Project B is still in the works, OPPO has beaten LG with the new OPPO X 2021 smartphone concept, unveiled at the recent INNO Day 2020 event, along with OPPO AR Glass 2021 and OPPO CybeReal.
OPPO X 2021 Concept Smartphone
The OPPO X 2021 smartphone concept features a continuously variable rollable OLED display. The device uses OPPO’s proprietary Roll Motor powertrain to expand the 6.7-inch screen to a maximum of 7.4 inches, converting it from a regular smartphone to a kind of larger phablet.
The powertrain consists of two motors that generate a constant force to deploy the device evenly, ensuring that the screen is not damaged during the process. And it even gives you the freedom to unroll the screen as much as you like, unlike foldable smartphones which generally have only two states (folded and unfolded) to toggle.
Despite this rolling mechanism, the screen of the device has no visible kinks or creases. To ensure this, OPPO engineers have designed a bearing with a slider on the side of the screen with a 6.8mm arc. This arch allows the screen to recede without any visible crease.
Since the roll-up screen of the OPPO X 2021 is not as rigid as conventional screens, OPPO has also designed an innovative 2-in-1 plate screen support technology that supports the screen on both sides from the inside.
As you can see from the attached image, this board has a comb-shaped structure that effectively supports the screen, no matter its shape. When the device is closed, the plates form a single surface to support the screen. And when it is extended, one of the plates slides out to support the screen without leaving gaps. This mechanism ensures that the screen remains smooth even when unfolded.
To protect the sliding mechanism from the back, OPPO has adopted a dynamic frame, consisting of a fixed frame outside and a sliding frame inside. As the screen unfolds, the sliding frame and rear battery cover move out of the rear panel to better protect the internals.
Since roll-up displays are quite delicate, the OPPO X 2021 also uses a proprietary Warp Track high-strength display laminate which adds some force to the display. The laminate is made from high-strength steel and is only 0.1mm thick at its thinnest point. As the following image illustrates, the Warp Track laminate forms a track behind the screen, adding strength without increasing drag.
The technologies mentioned above in the OPPO X 2021 only scratch the surface of what was used to develop the smartphone concept. OPPO claims that it applied for 122 patents during its development, 12 of which are related to the rolling mechanism only.
You can see the OPPO presentation on the smartphone here:
OPPO AR Glass 2021 and OPPO CybeReal
Along with the OPPO X 2021, the company showed two more innovative products during its INNO Day event: OPPO AR Glass 2021 and OPPO CybeReal. The second generation AR smart glasses are 75% lighter than last year’s model and feature a new “split design”. The OPPO AR Glass 2021 uses Birdbath optical technology to achieve 98% more brightness uniformity and provides the same viewing experience as viewing a 90-inch screen at 3 meters. The goggles feature fisheye binocular cameras that capture the environment around you and provide local maps and 3D spatial location with low latency.
These cameras, along with a ToF sensor, also track hand movements for easy operation. The hand tracking feature follows 21 unique markers on each hand, ensuring that the AR glasses capture even the most subtle movements. On top of that, the glasses come with OPPO’s Breeno voice assistant built in for voice commands.
OPPO CybeReal, on the other hand, is an AR application powered by real-time spatial computing technology. The application is based on a digital model of the physical world built on OPPO Cloud, and offers highly accurate real-time location and scene recognition via GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and network information.
