Motorola receives a patent for a smartwatch that unfolds into a smartphone screen

Motorola has created interesting concept phones in the past. At Lenovo World 2022, it showed off a rollable phone that could grow in size vertically, turning the device from a phone with a 4-inch display into a device with a 6.5-inch screen. Most other rollable concepts at the time would grow horizontally to increase the screen size.

In 2023, Motorola created a concept phone that could turn into a smartwatch

At Lenovo World 2023, Motorola announced that it had created a concept device that could be used as a smartphone sporting a 6.9-inch pOLED display with a resolution of FHD+. There was nothing out of the ordinary about that. But this phone had a display that could be bent into different shapes and forms depending on the needs of the user.

Which of these concepts would you buy?

In one iteration, the device could be wrapped around the wrist like a watch, although admittedly it looked quite bulky in that form. The phone could also be shaped into an "L," turning the bottom quarter of the phone into a stand, allowing it to sit on a desk.

Motorola patent shows smartwatch that unfolds to become a smartphone screen

Mock-up of Motorola smartwatch that turns into a smartphone based on patent. | Image by Burnplate

Motorola is awarded a new patent

Well, it seems that Motorola isn't giving up on the idea of creating a smartphone that can double as a smartwatch. Motorola was awarded a patent near the end of last month with the number US12,693,705 and the title "Pivoting wearable reconfigurable screen." Unlike the concept that Motorola shared in 2023, the device discussed in the patent starts out as a smartwatch while worn around the wrist and unfolds into a flexible display.

Mock-up of watch band on top, that turns into a display at the bottom.

ristband on top, turns into smartphone at bottom. | Image by Burnplate

The watch band becomes a short, wide smartphone display

The user will be able to take the watch off of their wrist and unfold the strap forming two parts that would be assembled into a phone with a short but wide display. In one diagram in the patent, the watch strap pivots, allowing a second part of the band to attach to the other half to create a screen. Magnets or interlocking parts would be used to keep the two halves together so the user could view content on the makeshift screen.

Patent shows how watch band can pivot to become a display.

Motorola envisions half of the band using magnets or interlocking parts to attach to the other half, becoming a display. | Image by Motorola

This transformation would be perfect for those who love having a watch that collects workout and health data, but hate having to look at a small watch screen to see the results. You shouldn't expect to see this technology available on a new device anytime soon.

If this story interests you, you might want to check these out:

Motorola rollable rises vertically to turn 4-inch display into 6.5-inch screen.

Motorola's Gumby-esque smartphone can become a watch, or a phone with a stand.

Leaked images show existence of Motorola's premium "Ultra" watch.

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