South Korean electronics company Samsung have excited the tech world this week after two trademark filings were spotted by LetsGoDigital, ‘Z Roll’ and ‘Z Slide’.
We know that Samsung have been preparing to roll out the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3. However, the trademark filings indicate it’s set to expand its Galaxy Z series with something more cutting edge than its foldable smartphones. As part of the Display Week 2021 conference, Samsung unveiled several futuristic prototype devices which echoed some of the patents previously spotted with rollable gadgets.
The EUIPO filing offers up some clues. The description indicates that the device in question is a smartphone and that it also suggests S Pen compatibility. Samsung’s current foldables do not support the stylus pen, but the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 3 is rumoured to be compatible with the S Pen. Could the Z Roll be the first working rollable smartphone to hit the market?
Questions about this
What did Samsung’s Z Roll and Z Slide trademark filings suggest?
The filings, spotted by LetsGoDigital, suggested Samsung planned to expand its Galaxy Z series beyond foldable phones. The EUIPO filing described the device as a smartphone and suggested S Pen compatibility, prompting speculation that the Z Roll could be the first working rollable smartphone, following the prototype rollable devices Samsung showed at Display Week 2021.
Answered by Jonathan Paton, Founder & CEOWhy do companies file trademarks before launching a product?
To secure the name early. The UK works on a first-to-file basis, so applying before launch fixes the filing date and reduces the chance of somebody else getting there first. The trade-off is that applications are public, which is how Samsung’s Z Roll and Z Slide filings were spotted and discussed by the tech press before the products themselves appeared.
Answered by Jonathan Paton, Founder & CEO
