TCL has shown some attention-grabbing foldable display prototypes over the past couple of years, and today it's back with a pair concept devices that have unique screens.
First up is TCL's rollable display concept. This device has a flexible AMOLED screen that starts out at a size of 6.75 inches but can extend to 7.8 inches. It accomplishes this thanks to internal motors that, with the press of a button, can extend the screen or roll it up into the body.
The rollable display has no wrinkles or creases like we've seen on some recent foldable phones, giving you a clean and flat screen that you can use for split-screen apps and multitasking. TCL also touts when the extended screen isn't in use, the sliding panel uses "advanced mechanics" to conceal the flexible screen.
That whole thing, complete with internal motors and rollable display, is 9mm thick. To compare, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 8.1mm, the OnePlus 7T is 8.13mm, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra is 8.8mm.
TCL is also giving us another look at the tri-fold tablet concept that it first showed off last year. This device uses two hinges to help ensure a smooth folding motion inward and outward with a minimal gap.
When unfolded, this device offers a large 10-inch display. You can then fold it up into a 6.65-inch screen with 20.8:9 aspect ratio and 3K resolution when you need something a bit smaller.
The official images of this tri-fold tablet concept show that it's got four rear cameras and a USB-C port. And to top things off, TCL has given the device a 3D holographic finish that looks just as nice as the tri-fold display.
Both of these TCL concept phones are pretty intriguing. The rollable display gives you a smartphone screen when you need it and then lets you switch to a smaller screen when you don't, like some foldables that've recently launched. Unlike those devices, though, TCL says this concept doesn't have a crease, and the idea of a rolling display is pretty cool on its own.
And then there's the tri-fold display, which gives you a full-size 10-inch tablet screen that you can fold into a much smaller footprint and fit into your pocket. It might be a bit thicker than most smartphones because of its dual hinge and tri-fold design, but that trade-off could be worth it in order to carry a device in your pocket that can transform into a 10-inch tablet.
The one bit of bad news here is that TCL isn't announcing any kind of launch date or pricing for either of these devices, so it's unclear when we might be able to buy one and make it our daily driver.