Samsung Reportedly Developing a Phone With a Vertically Sliding Screen

Samsung is developing a phone whose display slides upwards to change from a 16:9 to a 21:9 aspect ratio, tipster Ice Universe claimed on 11 November 2026. Samsung has not confirmed the device, and it is unclear whether it is the rollable phone Samsung reportedly plans for the first half of 2028.

What Ice Universe claims

In his post on X, Ice Universe said the screen would extend from 16:9 to 21:9. That would let one phone switch between a shorter, wider shape and a taller one, depending on what you are doing. He also named the obvious problem: the sliding mechanism takes up space inside the phone, leaving less room for the battery, and an extended screen uses more power.

Concept render of the phone in its compact 16:9 form, front and back. This is not an official Samsung image. Image: Ice Universe

The concept images show a phone with a two-part back. In compact mode the phone is short and fairly wide. When extended, the upper section slides up and the display grows taller. These are renders of the idea, not leaked photos of a real prototype, so the final design could look quite different.

How much bigger would the screen get?

If the width stays the same, going from 16:9 to 21:9 makes the screen about 31% taller. A phone that is compact in your pocket could open up to roughly the tall shape of a normal flagship. That is a different idea from book-style foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, whose 7.6-inch inner screen opens sideways into a 4:3 tablet shape. A vertical slider would avoid a crease, but it would not give you a tablet-sized screen. The maths and comparison are ours, based on the tipster's figures.

Is this Samsung's 2028 rollable?

Maybe. Korea's Money Today reported in June 2026 that Samsung Electronics is developing a rollable smartphone for release in the first half of 2028, and quoted a Samsung official saying a Samsung Display panel is likely to be used. Samsung Display has also shown a slidable display concept at MWC 2026. Neither source ties that work to the 16:9 to 21:9 design in Ice Universe's post, so we treat them as related signals, not proof of the same product.

What's confirmed and what isn't

• Tipped (Ice Universe): Samsung is developing a phone with a display that extends from 16:9 to 21:9.
• Reported (Money Today, quoting a Samsung official): Samsung is developing a rollable phone for the first half of 2028.
• Shown (Samsung Display, MWC 2026): a slidable display concept.
• Not known: whether these are the same device, its name, specs, battery size, price and launch date.

For buyers in India, this is a long-term story. Even on the most optimistic timeline, a Samsung slider or rollable is more than a year away, so it should not change any purchase you are planning now. We will follow it as more details appear.

Sources: Ice Universe on X, Money Today.