How Do Foldable Laptop Screens Work? Foldable Laptops Compared
Foldable displays are an impressive feat of engineering and pose many uses in portable products. They allow a large display to be utilized, which can cleverly fold to a more streamlined form factor.
Flexible OLED displays capable of being bent and folded have made this possible, transforming a seemingly ordinary laptop into a large touchscreen, tablet-style device. Unfortunately, the current offerings for these unique devices are somewhat limited, but manufacturers like Lenovo and Asus have already released folding-screen laptops.
How Do Foldable Laptop Screens Work?
Foldable laptop screens use flexible OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays built using ultra-thin glass technology.Flexible OLED displays use organic compoundscapable of emitting light when an electric current is applied, though they are still extremely thin. As well as being flexible, these displays offer vivid colors and fantastic contrast ratios.
Foldable laptops also make use of software and other hardware developments, allowing the device to recognize when the display is unfolded. In addition, the user interface and key settings, such as the touch sensitivity and display resolution, adjust for the optimal user experience. Manufacturers also include software that allows users to take full advantage of the various modes available.
Due to the foldable nature of displays, the laptop’s hinge plays a crucial part in the smooth operability and longevity of the device. The hinge must be solid, open smoothly, and ensure the display is folded and unfolded so that unnecessary strain is not placed on the display.
Two Foldable Screen Laptops Compared
The first foldable laptop, the Lenovo X1 Fold, was announced in 2020. This was a first-of-its-kind device built upon mobile phones' flexible display technology. Since the X1 Fold’s inception, Asus joined the market with the Zenbook Fold. Lenovo has also since released an updated version of the X1 Fold.
Lenovo X1 Fold (2022)
In 2022, Lenovo updated the original X1 Fold. The all-new Lenovo X1 Fold features a 16.3" flexible OLED display that, when folded, changes the form factor to 12". Configurations of this machine can include up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 12th-Gen Intel CPUs up to an Intel Core i7, and up to one terabyte of internal storage.
Up to 12th-Gen Intel® Core™ i7 with vPro
Operating System
Up to Windows 11 Pro
Intel Iris Xe
16.3″ 4:3 folding OLED HDR (2560 x 2024), 600 nits 12″ when folded
Up to 32GB LPDDR5
Up to 1TB PCIe Gen 4
Starting at 1.3kg
Dimensions (H x W x D)
276.2 mm x 345.7 mm x 8.6mm
Ports / Slots
2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Optional: Nano SIM slot
The Lenovo X1 Fold also comes with a magnetic Bluetooth keyboard that can be used separately from the device or can attach over the bottom half of the screen when folded. This is ideal for those that need the traditional laptop experience from time to time.
Asus Zenbook Fold
As a newcomer to the foldable display laptop market, Asus hopes to win the affection of those looking for a large-screen experience. The Asus Zenbook Fold offers a whopping 17.3" folding OLED display that is 12.5" when folded.
Specifications:
Intel Core™ i7-1250U Processor 1.1 GHz (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 2P+8E cores)
17.3″ 4:3 folding OLED HDR (2560 x 1920), 500 nits 12.5″ when folded
Up to 16GB LPDDR5
Starting at 1.5kg
378.5 mm x 287.6 mm x 8.7 mm
2x Thunderbolt™ 4 supports display/power delivery 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Asus also claims this device is capable of 30,000 folding cycles for the purpose of durability and comes with a pen and a Bluetooth keyboard. Similar to the X1 Fold, this accessory attaches to the lower half of the screen to allow a standard laptop experience.
Foldable Laptop Displays Are Plagued With Issues
Laptops with foldable displays are an exciting topic of conversation and are sure to turn heads in the coffee shop. However, the technology is not without problems, as flexible display technology in laptops shares many similarities with flexible displays in mobile phones.
Unfortunately, this means they also share many of the issues behindwhy foldable phones are not mainstream yet. These issues may have a similar effect on the foldable display laptop market.
Screen Crease
Flexible displays are still in their infancy, and a common problem manufacturers face is the crease in the screen where the display folds. Although the crease only really affects the aesthetic nature of devices when the screen is unfolded, it can still be a major downside to see your expensive device showing a rather noticeable crease down the middle of the display.
Foldable display technology is an expensive premium. The specifications of a machine often do not match the premium price you should expect to pay for a device. Of course, you are paying for the convenient display, but with flexible screen laptops starting at $2,000, you can buy a regular laptop with much better specifications at this price point.
Durability
Due to the repeated folding and unfolding nature of a laptop with a foldable display, a major concern is the durability factor. Even with Asus claiming 30,000 cycles on their Zenbook Fold, only time will tell how durable these devices are. Because the technology is so new, the question of durability is still unknown.
Alternative Options to Foldable Displays
As well as foldable display devices, manufacturers are releasing products that stand out and employ different technologies to expand usability and productivity.
Multiple Inbuilt Displays
Several laptops have been released that use two separate inbuilt displays. These displays work in tandem with each other to offer various degrees of usability. A notable example is the Apple Macbook Pro, which includes the Magic Touchbar, a small touchscreen display that changes depending on the on-screen application for the user’s benefit.
Windows devices such as the Asus Zenbook Duo or the Lenovo YogaBook 9i include two larger separate displays. For example, theAsus Zenbook Duo offers a 12.65" touchscreen displaybelow the main screen, allowing the device to retain its physical keyboard. Whereas the Lenovo YogaBook 9i (one of thebest laptops we saw at CES 2023) features two large touchscreen displays connected by the hinge. To overcome a lack of a physical keyboard, the YogaBook 9i includes a similar Bluetooth keyboard attachment found on the Lenovo X1 Fold.
Portable Monitors
Portable monitorsoffer a dual-screen experience on a traditional laptop design. As an additional accessory, they impact weight and portability but offer a good compromise to getting the most bang for the buck from a laptop. Simply plug in and go.
Traditional Laptops
Since foldable display devices come at a premium, a good option can be to forgo this option to keep the cost down. Traditional laptops may only offer one display but bang for your buck, you will get better specifications for your money.
Foldable Screen Laptops Are Fantastic, but the Technology Is Not Quite Ready
Foldable screen laptops push the boundaries of what is possible with technology, and it is refreshing to see manufacturers attempting something new. These devices offer the perfect compromise between full-size displays and portability. Accessories such as companion keyboards and trackpads allow a traditional laptop experience for those not wishing to use their device in full-screen mode all the time.
That being said, foldable screen technology is still immature and expensive. Until the price of these technologies drop and prominent issues are resolved, they are unlikely to be adopted by the average consumer.
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