Lenovo Teases Modular Laptop, Foldable Gaming Handheld Concepts

Lenovo has revealed several new proof-of-concept prototypes, including a “modular” laptop with dual displays and detachable ports, as well as a portable gaming device with a foldable screen.

The devices, which were announced on Monday to coincide with the start of the MWC Barcelona conference in Spain, are not final and do not have a confirmed release date. The company also introduced a concept device that looks like an alarm clock with a built-in AI-powered assistant.

The Chinese company, which also owns Motorola, has a history of showing off concept devices that have not all been commercially released. At CES in January, it introduced a Motorola-branded artificial intelligence necklace, which includes a laptop prototype with a built-in camera, smart glasses and a sideways-opening screen. While many of these items never leave the proof-of-concept stage, they offer clues about how the world’s leading computer maker is thinking about future products.

The idea of ​​a dual-screen laptop isn’t exactly new. Brands like Asustek Computer have tried selling such models to consumers, making the doubling of screen real estate a boon for productivity and multitasking. But Lenovo’s “ThinkBook Modular AI Computer Concept” goes further by allowing users to transform the entire machine by separating and reconfiguring its components.

By default, a second display is installed on the back of the laptop; this makes it possible to show a presentation to someone sitting across from you. This display can also be changed to the keyboard’s location for a setup similar to Asus’. It can also be used as a traditional external monitor when plugged in with a cable.

In a prototype machine that Lenovo showed off during a presentation ahead of MWC Barcelona, ​​ports such as HDMI output can be removed and replaced with different connectors, so users can optimize their laptops for different daily workflows. Some PC manufacturers, such as Framework Computer, are already touting modularity as a key selling point for their devices.

Legion Go Foldable

The Legion Go Fold Concept builds on Lenovo’s past gaming handhelds by replacing a rigid display with a flexible display that can extend from 7.7 inches to 11.6 inches. Both controllers are removable and the screen can be oriented horizontally or vertically. When used in portrait mode, the user can theoretically fill one half of the screen with a game and a Twitch stream or tutorial on the other half.

“This proof of concept is designed for gamers who don’t have hours sitting in front of a TV or PC, or who don’t want to juggle both a laptop for work and a handheld for gaming while traveling,” Lenovo said in a statement announcing the concept devices. A wireless keyboard with a built-in trackpad allows the Windows-powered device to double-task as a laptop.

The interior of the Fold Concept is powered by a processor from Intel and 32 gigabytes of memory. Its right controller can be used as a mouse like the Legion Go 2, and this version even has a small screen that can show performance metrics such as frames per second.

Between the two concept devices, the gaming handset’s hardware felt flashier and more advanced in a hands-on demonstration. And since this is an extension of the line Lenovo is already following, this prototype has a more prominent place in Lenovo’s roadmap.

Artificial Intelligence Colleague

Called the “AI Work Companion,” the watch-inspired device uses artificial intelligence to sync tasks and schedules across the user’s devices with a single tap. “The company also recommends work breaks and tracks screen time to better manage burnout,” he said.

It was stated that this AI-powered assistant will also offer “fun interactions with the user and a weekend celebration report of completed tasks” and will include a built-in port hub and programmable buttons.

Lenovo is one of many consumer technology companies, from major players to startups, that are testing different types of hardware that offer AI features to consumers. Meta Platforms Inc. and smart glasses, a category popularized by the Ray-Ban series, other brands have recently tried to incorporate much of the same technology into devices like headphones, necklaces, rings, and even computer monitors (another concept from Lenovo). Many of these devices are being framed as prototypes for now, with no confirmed release date.