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Foldable devices have gradually picked up pace in the market, which means more brands have entered the segment to catch buyer’s attention. Many have even said that 2023 is the year when foldables reach the mainstream level, and it seems 2024 could be the year for rollable phones.

That’s right, brands like Vivo and Transsion are reportedly planning for next year in a big way and could unveil their first-ever smartphones with rollable screens. The report by the Elec says these two phones will be market-ready and not just prototypes, which is a big deal. The devices will have screens that expand partially and roll over with a press of a button. The phones will be showcased by the end of 2024, the report adds, which means they could be available in early 2025.

It is interesting to hear news about this technology, which seemingly looked dead after brands like LG, Oppo, Motorola and more brands showcased their respective prototypes in the past few years. Samsung might have the upper hand in the foldable segment, but the company has definitely got to pace up its focus on further innovation or lose out to brands like Vivo that has Zeiss Optics for cameras in its armoury.

The other notable part about this news is that Transsion Holdings has brands like Itel, Tecno and Infinix under its wing. Tecno has already showcased its strategy by launching foldable phones for under Rs 1 lakh and a flip phone for under Rs 50,000 in the market.

Vivo has shown its ambitions by launching premium X series phones that have powerful cameras and offer their own uniqueness in the market. Bringing a rollable phone will surely be another feather in their ever-growing cap.

But like every new technology, we don’t expect the upcoming rollable phones to be available in the so-called mass segment anytime soon. Having said that, brands like Vivo and Tecno entering this space should expedite the evolution of this segment and bring more options for buyers.