After establishing itself as one of the leaders in the flip phone segment, Samsung could now make a phone with a retractable screen, according to a newly discovered patent application. The document describes a device with a retractable screen and a movable rear camera module, which moves along with the screen as the case expands.
The patent was noticed by WearView, and according to the sketches from the application and the renderings made by this source, the device would have a special opening on the back to accommodate the camera module. When the screen is tucked into the main case, the phone looks like a classic flagship model, like the Galaxy S26 Ultra device.
The Samsung phone gets a mobile camera
When the screen is fully extended, the device takes on a shape closer to models such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, only without the classic folding mechanism. Instead of folding around the hinge, the screen extends out of the case, increasing the display area without the need for the other half of the phone.
The patent further states that the device could use sensors to detect changes in screen size, camera and antenna positions, as well as other hardware changes that occur due to screen movement. This is important because the system would have to know in which position the screen is, where the camera is located and how the arrangement of components changes during use.
Back in 2023, Samsung showed a prototype of a rollable OLED screen, while in 2021 it filed a patent for a device whose screen can be both folded and extended. This shows that the company has been exploring formats that go beyond today’s flip phones for a long time.
As with most patents, there is no guarantee that such a device will take off on the market. However, the filing shows that Samsung is continuing to develop the idea of a rollable phone, similar to concepts like the Moto Rizr and Tecno Phantom Ultimate, reports GSM Arena.