Already it seems that rollable cell phones are becoming the next big trend. And Samsung, the undisputed king of foldable phones, seems to be jumping on the bandwagon.

While we don't hear much more than pure speculation about Samsung's rollables, a new patent has appeared that proves Samsung is considering the idea.

LetsGoDigital discovered this patent, filed in March 2020, suggesting that this is something Samsung has been mulling over for quite some time. And it makes sense, since rollables are the next logical step after folderables.

Samsung has been going all out on foldable phones in recent years, even reportedly positioning the Galaxy Z Fold 3 as the successor to the current Galaxy Note series. However, foldable phones have their problems, notably unstable hinges and screens that crease easily.

Rollables will undoubtedly have problems, but a rolling screen mechanism should, in theory, prevent noticeable creasing at individual points.

Samsung's patent shows off a regular-sized 6-inch smartphone that extends to an 8-inch tablet, but most interestingly, it is a "dual-slide smartphone" that uses flexible materials on the front and back of the phone body.

The front panel is very simple and uses a stretchable flexible display, familiar from other rollable phone makers like LG. The back is slightly different, and Samsung seems to be expanding its options. The patent mentions the possibility of a second flexible display and the inclusion of other flexible materials such as metal film, fabric, and leather.

Frankly, if it works properly, it sounds like a good idea. This is one of the reasons why the Galaxy Fold announcement was delayed. This also probably means that the exterior design will remain the same no matter what position the phone is placed in.

Sadly, patents are no guarantee of anything, and there is no telling when Samsung's rollable will be released. Given that rollables are still in their infancy, it is certain that they will not appear for some time. The only immediate prospect may be LG's rollable, which was promised to appear this year. But now that LG is considering exiting the cell phone business, that rollable may never see the light of day.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z FlIp 3 are expected to appear later this year.