Foldable and Rollable Displays – Rethinking UI/UX for Flexible Screens

From sci-fi dreams to pocket-ready reality, foldable and rollable screens are reshaping how we interact with technology. What was once limited to curved TV displays has now made its way into smartphones, tablets, laptops—and soon, wearables and even smart home surfaces.

But as hardware evolves, design must evolve with it. Foldables and rollables aren't just novel—they introduce entirely new challenges and opportunities for UI/UX designers.

Let’s explore how flexible screen tech is flipping the script on user interface and experience design.

A Quick Look at Foldable and Rollable Tech

Foldable Displays: Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Google Pixel Fold use flexible OLED technology to fold in half like a book or flip phone. They often have multiple displays—an outer screen and a larger inner foldable one.

Rollable Displays: These devices extend like scrolls, dynamically increasing screen real estate. Think: a phone that stretches into a tablet or a display that unfurls from a compact tube.

Both offer fluid screen states—collapsed, expanded, partially folded—creating a new dimension in interface design.

Implications for UI/UX Design

Responsive isn’t enough—design must be adaptive

Traditional responsive design adjusts layout based on screen size. But with foldables, screen form factor can change mid-session.

• UI must adapt to folded/unfolded states

• Designers need to account for dual-screen, hinge placement, and split view behavior

• Transitions should be smooth and intuitive

Continuity is key

Users expect their app experience to continue seamlessly across screen modes.

• If they start writing an email folded, it should instantly continue full-screen when unfolded

• Media should scale up gracefully, not restart or glitch

Android’s Jetpack WindowManager and Samsung’s Flex UI offer tools for managing layout continuity across folds.

New interaction patterns emerge

Foldables and rollables open doors to contextual UX:

• Multitasking with drag-and-drop between panels

• Using the folded angle as a mini-laptop or video stand

• Designing for "tent mode" or "hover mode" (e.g., hands-free video or scrolling)

Designers must explore how user gestures evolve with form factor. What feels intuitive on a tablet might not translate to a foldable phone.

Rethinking information hierarchy

More screen doesn’t mean more clutter. Instead, flexible screens allow for:

• Progressive disclosure: show more content only when unfolded

• Smart zoning: prioritize content based on fold orientation

• Context-aware UIs: shift navigation and controls based on how the device is held

Designing for the crease

Yes, there’s often a visible fold or crease. Designers should:

• Avoid placing critical content (text, buttons) on the hinge

• Use safe zones and test across devices with different crease depths

Design Tools & Frameworks

• Figma & Adobe XD now offer frame presets for foldables

• Google’s Material Design for foldables provides guidelines

• CSS Container Queries and media features like spanning help handle multi-screen layouts

What’s Next?

As rollables hit the mainstream, we’ll see:

• Scrollable UIs that adjust with dynamic height/width changes

• On-demand UI scaling (expand only what’s needed)

• Personalized layouts based on how users interact with their foldable over time

And beyond mobile? Think rollable TVs, foldable wearables, and modular UI for smart furniture.

Final Thoughts

Foldable and rollable displays are more than just hardware gimmicks—they’re catalysts for a new era of user-centered design. As screens become more fluid, so too must our interfaces.

UI/UX designers are no longer just designing for devices—they’re designing for experiences in motion.

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