TCL's latest concept device is a phone, phablet, and tablet all at the same time

TCL has always been at the forefront of flexible display technology. After showing off both foldable and rollable phone concepts, the company has now devised a 3-in-1 prototype that can transform into a phone, phablet, and even a tablet. Called the TCL Fold ‘n Roll, the concept phone was shown off alongside the new TCL 20 series lineup.

As the name suggests, Fold ‘n Roll combines both foldable and rollable display technologies in one device. The outward folding phone starts off with a 6.87-inch screen which opens up to become an 8.85-inch phablet. The unfolded screen further rolls out to become a 10-inch tablet, at which point it adjusts the aspect ratio to make media viewing better. You can see the device in action in the video embedded below.

The company has used its DragonHinge technology as well as a rollable mechanism to create this unique device. TCL says that it is still in the process of exploring the tech specs for such a device. The firm is also trying to figure out how to use glass to make the screen more durable. The prototype currently uses plastic.

While the Fold ‘n Roll looks fantastic, don’t expect it to get a market launch anytime soon. As TCL puts it, such 3-in-1 devices are still some time away. They look attractive and might have a use case for those who want one device instead of three, but foldables are hard to manufacture and even harder to price affordably. An elaborate device such as the Fold ‘n Roll could be tough to bring to market until these issues can be resolved.

That said, TCL is expected to release a flexible phone later this year, but hasn’t revealed if it’s a foldable, rollable, or both.