Lenovo is showcasing its latest innovative product, the ThinkBook Flip laptop concept, at Mobile World Congress. This productivity business laptop boasts a flexible display that can be used in three different modes: a traditional 13.1-inch clamshell, a folded-up 12.9-inch tablet, or an extra-tall 18.1-inch vertical screen.
The ThinkBook Flip features the same OLED panel as the $3,500 ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, which is expected to arrive in June. However, instead of extending out from underneath it, the display folds behind the main portion of the screen, eliminating the need for motors and unused space inside the chassis. This results in a unique design with only 0.4 inches of extra screen real estate.
When folded back, the Flip can be used like a normal laptop, but its rear-facing screen allows users to mirror or extend their display without an external monitor or projector. When flipped up, the full 18.1-inch OLED display becomes available, providing a comfortable viewing experience with its neck-relieving eye level and webcam placement.
The Smart ForcePad trackpad is another notable feature, offering three color-coded layers of LED-illuminated touch shortcuts and media controls that can be accessed within the pad itself. While Lenovo aims to replace the touchpad with a smartphone display in the future, this compromise provides a more affordable option.
Estimated specs for the ThinkBook Flip include an Intel Ultra 7 processor, 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, PCIe SSD storage, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a fingerprint reader. Although prototypes were seen at MWC, they still felt fragile and rough around the edges, but further development may lead to a more refined product.
The ThinkBook Flip concept offers an exciting alternative for those looking for a unique laptop experience, potentially at a lower price point than its rollable cousin, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/622380/lenovo-thinkbook-flip-concept-laptop-foldable-mwc