First Look Motorola Rizr Rollable Screen

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I returned to the media room after using the new “Motorola Rizr” rollable concept phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and began researching the BlackBerry Priv (review). You must be wondering why the Moto Rizr and BlackBerry Priv are related. I’ll explain the relationship to you shortly. Returning to the Moto Rizr, “Have fun” is the phrase that best sums up the idea of a rollable phone. But, a part of me could see that Motorola was genuinely attempting to solve a conundrum.

The end goal appears to be to offer a phone that is really small yet has a display that rolls out. It’s a crazy idea, but there are undoubtedly several design limitations. In fact, I struggled to go past the Motorola Rizr for a while. My initial thoughts on the new Moto Rizr concept rollable phone are shown here.

MOTOROLA RAZR MEETS BLACKBERRY PRIV

When the BlackBerry Priv launched in 2015, I adored it. The Priv was a unique phone with a QWERTY keyboard that pulls out from behind the 5.4-inch quad HD display. I’m not sure if you even remember it. The basic goal of Motorola’s Rizr concept phone is the same as that of the BlackBerry Priv, but this time the rollable display is really moving the form factor ahead.

The Motorola concept phone includes a 5-inch device with a flexible POLED display that wraps around the bottom edge, extends about halfway up the back, and covers the front of the phone. The phone’s motorised parts move the top of the gadget up when a button is pressed, displaying a bigger 6.5-inch 22:9 display that functions exactly like a standard phone.

The physical factor of this kind of design offers a more portable variation of a typical smartphone now on the market, in addition to giving you a larger screen for viewing movies or browsing through a Twitter feed as required. Consider it in that light. When you want it to, the Motorola Rizr transforms into a large phone. It will often be a little phone that fits easily in the pocket.

USING IT

Although the rollable display could be the phone’s distinguishing feature, it also makes the Rizr bulkier than the majority of other phones I’ve tried recently. Yet unlike Samsung’s tri-foldable concept phone, which is also on display at Mobile World Congress, the Motorola Rizr is not as bizarre.

By tapping the phone’s screen, you interact with it like you usually do. Technically speaking, the Motorola Rizr may be used even as a concept phone. The phone’s screen rolls up and down when you press the power button twice. The phone’s screen instantly increases, and there is engaging action. But, I have some concerns regarding how Motorola will modify the software to fit the rollable form factor. I quickly launched the YouTube app on my phone; when you view a video, the screen expands. But, I find that the phone’s rollable screen is more practical when I need more keyboard area to type an email.

MOTOROLA RIZR LEAVES SOME LINGERING QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

I have numerous questions that the Motorola Rizr has addressed for me. For instance, the Motorola Rizr’s screen appears to be highly brittle when it is enlarged. I didn’t see any screen flex, but it does make me feel uneasy using the phone. The potential for screen scuffs on both sides is another issue. The display wraps around the phone to the back when it is closed, and while I loved the idea of a real-facing display for alerts, there is a good risk the screen will get scratched.

I believe that here is where the topic of rollable gadgets’ longevity arises. Due to their inner flexible displays, smartphones like the Motorola Razr and the Samsung Z Fold 4 in my opinion are more protected than the Rizr, which has a flexible display on both the front and back.

AM I IMPRESSED WITH THE MOTOROLA RIZR?

The Motorola Rizr is an interesting concept gadget. The rollable gadget may be justified for some circumstances, though. Yet because rollable displays are more delicate than foldable ones, I think it could be harder to get a rollable tablet into people’s hands. Having said that, I do admire Motorola’s efforts to think a bit differently and creatively in order to improve upon the present phone form factors on the market with our smartphones. Motorola does not currently have any intentions to commercialise the Rizr, and the company has very good reasons for doing so.

The Motorola rollable smartphone prototype, rumoured to be called the Moto Rizr, was one of the exciting things Lenovo had planned for its MWC stand. Indeed, a tribute to the venerable Motorola Rizr Z3 slider phone from 2006. The new concept gadget has a display with a diagonal size of 6.5 inches and a vertical expansion to a 5-inch diagonal with a 15:9 aspect ratio.

By pushing a button, you can switch from a mini-sized phone to a plus one, providing you access to a device that can be used with one hand and, when necessary, a larger screen for watching media. Simply double-tap the power button to turn it on. Motorola notes that the controls can alter if this device is released as a mass-market product.

The screen is a pOLED display made by BOE, and it has the same durability concerns as all rollable and foldable screens. A little portion of the display may be used for alerts or as a camera viewfinder because the panel wraps around the rear of the device.

The fact that the earpiece and selfie camera are really hidden below the panel so the display rolls down whenever you make or receive a call or wish to take a photo is another intriguing detail.

For a more immersive experience in apps like YouTube, as well as in the email app, the rollable mechanism automatically extends the display, giving you a bigger canvas to type on. As the display is expanded or contracted, icons and wallpapers on the home screen also realign.

There aren’t many specifications provided for Motorola’s rollable concept phone; it weighs a considerable 210 grammes and has a 3,000 mAh battery. It will be fascinating to watch how Motorola develops this idea and how it intends to sell a rollable phone.

Even more so than with foldables, rollable gadgets’ durability is a major unknown. On this Motorola, the rollable screen is constantly visible, and a single drop may possibly ruin the entire experience. The movable mechanism that raises and lowers the display must also be taken into account. Yet, rollable phones have a more appealing form factor and make greater use of the available space.