Tag: Foldable

At MWC 2026, Lenovo showcased a concept laptop called Flip. Its main feature is a foldable OLED display on the lid, allowing the chassis to fold in a Z-shape, increasing the screen size from 13 inches to 18.1 inches when unfolded. Compared to the previously proposed ThinkBook Rollable concept laptop, while the Flip may not appear as technologically advanced, its unfolded screen area is not only larger than the ThinkBook Rollable's 16.7 inches, but also easier to mass-produce from a design perspective. In terms of hardware specifications, the Flip uses an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and 32GB of memory. Another design element from the Flip may be first used in other laptops, namely its new Smart ForcePad. This new Smart ForcePad will display different customizable touch icons and corresponding functions through a three-layer lighting structure, thereby increasing the touchpad's functionality. Similar designs have already been seen in laptops from ASUS and Acer. The concave-folding design of the top cover screen not only increases the display area to 18.1 inches, thereby expanding the viewing area, but also allows for screen sharing via the concave-folding mechanism, or viewing videos in a tent-like mode. Additionally, the folded-out screen can be used as a tablet. However, the outward-facing screen after folding presents a problem for this Lenovo concept laptop, as it may be easily scratched during transport. Even with protective cases and accessories, dust and other small objects may still seep in during movement, potentially causing wear and scratches. Furthermore, the chassis kickstand may also be a potential issue, especially with the addition of two screens. This increases the force on the hinge, making the hinge and auxiliary support stand even more crucial. However, Lenovo's current design seems to have issues with support during use. Lenovo is not currently preparing for mass production of the Flip, so it may only be a concept design at this stage. During MWC 2025, Lenovo also announced the launch of the ThinkPad X13 Gen 6, ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1, and ThinkBook 16p Gen 6 for business use, as well as the ThinkPad T series and E series laptops. Additionally, the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 5 was updated. ...

Reports indicate that Apple plans to revamp its Magic Mouse, expecting a completely new design, and also anticipates launching a new AirTag product. The current Magic Mouse, aside from having a built-in battery and USB-C charging, remains largely unchanged in appearance and usage, maintaining its 2009 design. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple has already begun developing a new mouse prototype, incorporating a completely new interface. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman believes that Apple will not only address the current Magic Mouse's awkward charging interface design (the charging port is currently located directly below the mouse, preventing simultaneous charging and mouse use), but will also adopt a completely new interface and design. However, the actual launch is expected to be 1 to 18 months away, with the earliest market entry anticipated being the end of 2025 or sometime in 2026. In addition, Mark Gurman also anticipates a new AirTag launch in 2025, featuring an upgraded chip and a chip design to prevent data tampering. The ultra-wideband chip may adopt the same design as the iPhone 15 series, thereby improving positioning efficiency. Besides revealing the aforementioned potential Apple product updates, Mark Gurman also stated in his report that Apple may be developing a 20-inch foldable screen design, roughly the size of two iPad Pro screens combined when unfolded, offering the user experience of both iPad and Mac models. It is expected to be announced as early as 2028.

Besides LG's plans to apply rollable screen designs to its mobile phones, Samsung also plans to launch more foldable, sliding, and rolling screen designs this year. During the earlier announcement of its Q4 2020 financial results, Choi Kwon-young, Senior Vice President of Samsung Display, revealed that the company will expand foldable screen designs in small and medium-sized screens this year, thereby further solidifying its leading position in foldable screen smartphones. Previously, Samsung had already launched the Fold design (folding horizontally) and the Flip design (folding vertically). This year's goal is to add more foldable screen usage methods, including sliding and rolling modes, as well as more foldable design styles. Furthermore, future screen designs will incorporate more variable refresh rates while continuously reducing screen power consumption. For example, the Galaxy S21 Ultra launched this year uses a low-power design to reduce overall screen power consumption. Regarding large-screen displays, Samsung will continue to develop new quantum LED displays, while its LCD business, originally scheduled to end last year, is continuing production to meet market demand. Currently, rollable phone designs are emerging, allowing the screen area to expand through horizontal sliding, while maintaining normal phone usage. OPPO recently showcased its design, LG displayed a phone called Foldable at CES 2021 earlier this year, and even TCL, through its panel manufacturer CSOT, demonstrated a rollable phone design. In addition to announcing more designs with foldable, sliding, or rollable screens, Samsung also plans to supply foldable display panels to Chinese phone brands this year, thereby expanding the market for foldable phones and accelerating the adoption of this design.

Samsung is expected to unveil the relaunch date of its foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, as early as IFA 2019, while reports also suggest a more affordable version is in the works. Bloomberg News reports that Samsung plans to release a phone that maintains a square shape when folded, with a 6.7-inch screen when unfolded. This square-shaped foldable phone could be a more affordable version of the Galaxy Fold, reportedly designed in collaboration with fashion designer Thom Browne to give it a more stylish and luxurious look, contradicting the earlier claims of an affordable price. The square shape when folded means the 6.7-inch screen will be displayed in a 21:9 aspect ratio, similar to the CinemaWide screen design of Sony Mobile's Xperia 1 released this year. Prior to this, companies including TCL's CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology) and BOE had already launched similar panel designs, allowing the screen to fold inwards or outwards in a straight line, displaying a 21:9 aspect ratio when unfolded. Furthermore, reports indicate that Samsung plans to incorporate ultra-thin glass technology, enabling foldable screen phones to fold to a greater degree without being limited by the stretching and compression limits of the glass material. However, these designs are still in the testing phase within Samsung. Whether they will become official products and enter the market will likely depend on the market acceptance of the Galaxy Fold after its actual launch, which will determine Samsung's future product development strategy.