A handheld electronic device having a slidable display is provided. A display unit is slidably connected to a body unit at two (or more) sliding joints. A mechanical linkage constrains motion at all of the sliding joints to be substantially equal. In this manner, binding of the slidable display is avoided, since binding occurs as a result of unequal motion at sliding joints. In one embodiment, the linkage includes a gear-axle-gear assembly disposed in a recess in the body unit and constrained to rotate as a unit about the axis of the axle. The gears of this assembly are engaged with linear gear racks on the display unit.