TCL has announced the Fold 'N Roll. This smartphone could outperform Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3.

The new foldable phone concept was unveiled as part of TCL's global press conference, where the company showed off what it calls a "true 3-in-1 device." And according to the company, the new foldable device features a "next-generation hinge and a mechanism not yet seen in a single device."

The hinge in question is called the "Dragon Hinge" and is a bit similar to the Falcon hinge on the Huawei Mate X2 in that it is cleverly integrated into the phone's body. In this case, however, the hinge works with an expandable display that can fold from a 6.87-inch panel to an 8.85-inch phablet.

Since TCL is "working on the technical specifications" of the upcoming Fold 'N Roll, there is no definitive word on an official release date, specifications, or price at this time. However, the company reaffirmed that it "plans to launch (its first) foldable device later this year," but whether that device will be the new Fold 'N Roll is not known.

This is not the first time TCL has teased a foldable display concept; the company also displayed a foldable display concept during CES 2021. But the path from concept device to actual product is often a long one. And there is no guarantee that such a concept will ever see the light of day.

If there is one thing that will help TCL evolve the foldable phone market, it is affordability. The company is known for producing budget smartphones, so one can expect that the upcoming Fold 'N Roll will likely be considerably less expensive than other flagship rollable and foldable smartphones.

For example, Samsung's rumored Galaxy Z Fold 3. This device could be priced as high (if not higher) as $1,999, similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 2. TCL has filled this gap, making foldable smartphones to be more affordable, the upcoming Fold 'N Roll could become more popular if its sleek, expandable display panel is offered at a more affordable price.