The Oppo Expandable Phone is a big-screen smartphone that can expand or retract its display with a simple swipe along its side. To achieve this, it uses a unique powertrain – two drive motors that generate a constant force output.
When the screen is rolled in, it automatically adapts to the new form factor – apps and UI shift seamlessly. It’s a neat feature that makes this smartphone feel more solid and durable.
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Features
The Oppo Expandable Phone features a display that expands from a 6.7-inch to a 7.4-inch tablet-like format. It can do this via impressive technology that allows the screen area to be curved under the sliding frame and expanded into view using a twin ‘Roll-Motor Powertrain.’
It’s also possible to retract the screen without affecting its thickness. This is achieved via a rail system with gears and rollers that work together to make the process smoother, which helps to improve the overall user experience.
Having a rollable smartphone can be an attractive prospect for many, as it means that you don’t have to deal with bulky devices or unsightly bulges when closed down. However, it will also need to prove itself more usable than foldable.
While there are a few issues to address, the Oppo Expandable Phone offers a unique form factor that combines the flexibility of a tablet with a traditional smartphone. It’s one of the most exciting phones in the market and has the potential to become a mainstream alternative.
Design
The Oppo Expandable Phone is a smartphone that can change its size similarly to foldable phones. All you need to do is swipe a button, and the screen automatically expands into a tablet-like 7.4-inch display.
The OLED screen can stretch from a 6.7-inch format to a full 7.4-inch with ease thanks to a trio of technological innovations, including a “continuously variable” OLED display, a dynamic sliding frame and a roll motor powertrain for expansion.
To achieve this, linear caterpillar track patterns on the underside of the panel move it in and out while two interlocking support substrates keep it sturdy. Twin-drive motors drive the roll motor powertrain also used to control the display.
While the panel expands smoothly, a slight jerk pops out whenever the device changes form factor. It was not as pronounced as the creasing on Samsung’s foldable, though, and it looked seamless overall.
Performance
OPPO’s new rollable phone features an OLED screen that can be rolled out and extended to a maximum 7.4-inch size. Its patented technology means the screen can be folded and easily unfolded without causing any creases.
This makes it a more stable form factor than foldable phones. It also makes it easier to use with one hand and feels more solid.
Another unique feature is that you can easily switch between the two screens – the bottom one goes for messaging UI, while the top part can be used as a camera viewfinder.
The UI and apps are well-optimized for this unique form factor and transition seamlessly while the phone expands or retracts. Moreover, it also supports split mode – you can choose a separate keyboard and viewfinder for each screen.
The phone’s performance is excellent, with an average Geekbench 5 score of 166 single-core and 971 multi-core. It also managed to survive a 20-minute GPU stress test with little trouble.
Price
The Oppo Expandable Phone is an eye-catching smartphone with patented technology that expands it from a standard form factor to a larger one. This is possible through a clever motor that rolls the display around a “warp track” to provide structural support.
This tech is an excellent alternative to foldable phones that are still not ready for mass adoption. It offers the benefits of a smaller device, no visible crease, and variable widths that suit movies or games.
It also offers a much more solid feel than any of the foldable smartphones I’ve used so far and doesn’t easily bend or collapse when it’s in your pocket. It’s also very sturdy when in a fully-expanded state, with an interlocking backplate and plate-within-a-plate design to ensure the battery and other vital components don’t fall out when rolled up.
