With a screen that can stretch from 12.7 inches to 15.3 inches, Lenovo’s laptop is just a proof of concept, but it looks pretty serious. The company first unveiled the all-in-one OLED laptop online in October, but showed it off in person ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week. Noted for an OLED screen that can be used in two different sizes and resolutions, it’s described as refined and decently polished.
As a proof of concept, Lenovo may never release such a fold-out PC. However, the company told Windows Central that it preferred to develop “concepts we hope to sell”. Also, Lenovo is no stranger to releasing laptops with alternative screen designs. Its 2020 ThinkPad X1 Fold was the first to attempt a foldable PC, and it will be succeeded this year by the 16-inch ThinkPad X1 Fold. Also due out this year is the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, which connects two 13.3-inch OLED screens with a hinge.
In its current form, the fold-out laptop prototype “looks and feels like a regular laptop,”according to the Android Authority. The publication also supported Lenovo and called the prototype “polished enough”to be shown in person. He even thought the system looked less clunky than the Asus ZenBook 17 Fold, an Intel-powered 12th-generation foldable PC currently selling for $3,500.
The roll-up Lenovo laptop demo is based on a ThinkBook chassis, one of Lenovo’s more experimental laptop lines. The Verge said the prototype panel is made by Sharp, which also makes foldable screens for the ThinkPad X1 Fold and the upcoming 16-inch ThinkPad X1 Fold.
The prototype screen may have a resolution of 2024×1604 pixels on a 12.7-inch 4:3 aspect ratio screen, or 2024×2368 pixels on a 15.3-inch 8:9 aspect ratio screen. The pixel density remains almost the same in both scenarios (203.4 and 203.6 ppi, respectively).
This alone is worth a pause. Near-square screens are rare among laptops, even as more premium options move away from 16:9 in favor of 16:10 and taller displays. Users praised the taller screens for their classic feel and ease of use for computing tasks such as navigating long news and social media feeds, spreadsheets and articles, coding, and multitasking.
Lenovo’s prototype offers a look that’s different from what’s currently available for laptops. An 8:9 ratio is like two 16:9 screens stacked on top of each other (the Yoga Book 9i has two 16:10 screens). And a laptop can offer a unique side-by-side portrait experience. In a conversation with Android Authority, Lenovo pointed to ThinkPad X1 Fold users who often use the device in portrait mode.
However, in its current form, the concept, in order to get from point A to point B, requires using a switch on the laptop deck and enduring an awkward waiting period of about 10 seconds (as measured by The Verge) and the sound of whirring engines. The tech advisor said the machine also uses springs and guides to adjust the screen, but noted that Lenovo may eventually opt for a “manual pop-up”version.
Because the laptop hides part of its screen under the keyboard, the final laptop may have a cleaner design than expected from a 15-inch class PC. The Verge stated that it was not allowed to lift the prototype or know its weight. But the system reportedly looked a bit thicker than average.
However, proof of concept is still just that. Tech Advisor reported that when the OLED screen slides under the keyboard, its pixels continue to glow. Verge also highlighted the crease in the prototype “where its screen originally curved under the keyboard”that was visible when the screen was at its maximum size.
Durability is also under development and Lenovo is reportedly planning to use 20,000 to 30,000 rolls. It’s also unclear how much battery power the spinning mechanism consumes.
However, it’s not hard to imagine a world where this is a real product from Lenovo or another manufacturer. LG’s $100,000 foldable TV works similarly, tucking away the OLED screen when you don’t need it. Foldable TVs and monitors have also emerged to appeal to users who sometimes need a curved display instead of a flat one.
And if Lenovo doesn’t release a PC with a screen that can be hidden, chances are someone else will, as computer and chip makers have sought to redesign PC screens for years.
Last fall, Samsung Display and Intel showed off a concept PC that was essentially a 13-inch tablet that could be turned into a 17.3-inch tablet.
Earlier this year, Samsung Display also showed off the Flex Hybrid, which is a sliding OLED screen that can be folded in half and viewed as a 10.5-inch 4:3 aspect ratio display or slotted into a 12.4-inch 16 aspect ratio display.: 10.
And since Windows 11 offers flexible window management that its predecessors didn’t have, foldable PCs seem poised to become a viable product category.
There’s a lot of experimentation and prototype work going on right now with flexible OLED-based laptops, and buyers will be able to try or drop these efforts soon enough.