No longer a concept: Lenovo launches a laptop with a roll-up display
There are many strange concepts in the world that capture the imagination but never make it to store shelves. Today, there is one less such device - Lenovo has announced that its futuristic laptop with a screen that unfolds like a roll will be put into mass production.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 has a flexible OLED display with small motors built into the hinge. At the touch of a button, the screen unfolds in 10 seconds and turns from 14-inch to 16.7-inch. This is probably the most practical application of flexible displays in the world.
Two years ago, Lenovo announced the device as a prototype, which was interesting, but we saw a lot of strange prototypes. But today, at CES 2025, it was announced that the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 will indeed go on sale, and in the first quarter of 2025, and anyone will be able to buy it for $3499.
A Lenovo representative said that they had thoroughly tested the technology and that it would be able to provide customers with at least 20,000 folds and unfolds, as well as 30,000 lid closures and openings. Representatives of the company allowed journalists to use the laptop without any restrictions, which means they are confident in the reliability of the technology.
ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 in an unfolded state. Source: Lenovo
The laptop screen has a resolution of 2000 x 1600 dots in the minimised state and 2000 x 2350 in the maximised state and operates at 120 Hz. Since it's a flexible OLED display made by Samsung, you can see that the display is not perfectly flat and has slight bends at certain angles. But in practice, this does not interfere with its use.
As for the "usual" parts of the laptop, its specifications include an Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor, 1TB SSD, 32GB DDR5, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 3.5mm AudioJack. Due to its very thin body (19.9 mm), the manufacturer did not provide it with USB-A connectors. Instead, the laptop has a fingerprint scanner.
Unfortunately, the new technology has its limitations. Since Windows can't work with resizable displays, this function is implemented as a second display connection, which means you won't be able to connect an external display via Thunderbolt.
Source: Lenovo