Microsoft might launch a Surface device in the future which features a foldable display, as seen in the recently published patents. It could be either be Microsoft Surface Duo or Surface Neo.

The patent was filed back on 6th May 2019 and was published on 28th January 2020. In the patents, a device can be observed with a single large display that appears similar to the Surface Duo in terms of design. Unfortunately, the patent doesn’t divulge the unique device’s name and rather only carries the “hinge device” description, meaning it could either be a smartphone or a PC with a foldable display.

Electronic products with foldable display have become increasingly more popular since early 2019 when major brands like Samsung unveiled one of the first smartphones with a bendable display (Galaxy Fold). Since then, other smartphone OEMs like Huawei and Motorola have also released their own offerings with similar features, namely Mate X and Moto Razr. This technology has even transferred to televisions that will arrive with a rollable display (LG Signature R).

Editor’s Pick: Again, Apple Watch comes to the rescue of a owner with an undetected heart condition

As of right now, no commercially available PC with a foldable display is available in the market but Lenovo is set to be the first to release one. To supplement this, Microsoft is also working on Windows 10X which is a version of the popular desktop operating system which will take advantage and be optimized for PCs with folding displays. Furthermore, Microsoft with its Surface Duo and Neo offerings have worked with dual or split screen devices so it doesn’t seem far fetched that a foldable Surface might be launched as well.

According to the patent, a device with a hinge can be observed which supports the flexible display unit. Unlike the Surface Duo, the device in the patent features one large display instead of two separate ones. Currently, the technology is expensive and not nearly as durable as regular screens. Hence, Microsoft might delay product launch and might look for a better alternative; or just as likely, never use the patent designs at all.

UP NEXT: CalTech wins $1.1 billion patent infringement case against Apple and Broadcom

(Via)

The post Microsoft to launch a Surface device with a foldable display according to patents appeared first on Gizmochina.

At CES 2019, Lenovo has showcased what seemed like the “world’s first foldable PC.” It was a prototype laptop notebook that could fold into and resemble a book. Jump forward to today (7th December 2020), Lenovo has unveiled the same laptop at CES 2020 which is now ready for commercial markets and is dubbed as the ThinkPad X1 Fold.

Design

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold is the world’s first foldable PC and thus arrives with a body mainly consisting of the screen on the front side. It arrives with an additional wireless keyboard but users can use the laptop without it as well. On the rear, the laptop is bound in leather, which is a really premium touch, that slides back and forth as the hinge unfolds. Interestingly, the device can easily pass off as a regular leather bound book when folded.

Specifications

Unfortunately, Lenovo has yet to reveal the exact specification of the product, similar to last year. However, it has barely changed in its internal specifications from the prototype variant. Hence, it arrives with a 13.3 inch flexible OLED panel with aa resolution of 2048 x 1536 and a 4:3 ratio. The ThinkPad X1 Fold also features Microsoft’s Windows Hello-compatible camera on its bezel.

The display is provided by LG and is said to be a product of a 4 year long partnership between the South Korean electronics company and Lenovo. Notably, there are still concerns being raised about the durability of the device. The doubt is in the right place considering one of the first foldable devices to be launched ended up breaking very soon (Samsung Galaxy Fold comes to mind). Also, a slight crease can be noticed in the middle of the screen where it bends if one looks hard enough.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold comes with Windows 10 Pro; thus, the company has to ship the device with its own solutions and optimizations for the foldable screen functionality. There is a version of Windows called Windows 10X which is expected to arrive later this year and bring Microsoft optimizations for the OS on dual display devices like the Surface Neo.

Editor’s Pick: The Alienware Concept UFO prototype is a gaming PC in the Nintendo Switch form factor

Under the hood, the foldable laptop from Lenovo runs a special Intel chipset which has not been specified, although it is hinted at as “hybrid technology.” This new processor is apparently power efficient as well since the company claimed an 11 hour battery life on it. For memory, it is equipped with 8GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage.

Price and Availability

The ThinkPad X1 Fold from Lenovo is a new breed of laptops and hence arrives with a hefty price tag. It will have buyers shell out $2,499 or roughly about 17,370 Yuan. The PC will start its shipping in mid 2020 and will be an experiment to see how well such one of a kind devices are received by the global market.

For more coverage on CES 2020 events and launches, click here.

UP NEXT: Lenovo unveils the IdeaPad Duet and IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebooks at CES 2020

(Via)

The post Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold arrives with a foldable OLED display, priced at $2499 (17,370 CNY) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Lenovo officially launched the much-awaited Motorola Razr amidst much fanfare at an event in Los Angeles, US yesterday. The company launched the device this morning at the Tech World 2019 in China. At the event, the Chinese firm also showcased the world’s first foldable PC with a flexible screen apart from the Motorola Razr foldable phone. It is the very same device that was revealed as ThinkPad X1 series device earlier this year. 

The images of the event shows that the display of the Motorola Razr has some creases at the folding area. It’s surprising since various tech publications have praised its screen for no visible creases. During the press conference at the event, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing answered queries related to Motorola Razr, he said that Lenovo’s product is a compact device like a mobile phone. It doesn’t transform into a tablet like other foldables. Instead, it folds in half making it more compact.

Coming to Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 series notebook with foldable screen, it is equipped with a 13.3-inch folding display manufactured by LG. Not much is known about the device apart from its weight, which is around 900 grams, and the 2K display. It will take a while for the laptop to reach showrooms, as Lenovo needs to iron out a few creases to get the device ready for production. 

BOE Vice-President has confirmed supplying OLED panels for the world’s first foldable PC and Motorola Razr.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi patents Motorola Razr-like foldable phone

Motorola Razr Specifications and Features

There are two displays on the Motorola Razr. The 6.2-inch primary p-OLED Flex View display has a resolution of 2142 x 876 pixels and an aspect ratio of 21:9. The 2.7-inch gOLED display on the outer surface features a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 4:3. Motorola calls it the Quick View which can be used to check notifications and quickly respond to messages. The Razr is powered by a Snapdragon 710 SoC with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. 

The primary camera on the new Razr is a 16-megapixel unit with an aperture rating of f/1.7 and dual-pixel autofocus that doubles as the selfie camera when the device is folded. There is a 5-megapixel front camera on top of the FlexView display. The Razr draws power from a 2,510 mAh battery that supports 15W TurboPower fast charge and runs on Android 9.0 Pie. The device lacks a 3.5mm headphone port but makes up for it with a bottom-mounted speaker, which together with the box acts as a passive amplifier. The packaging contains Razr Buds earphones and a headset adapter cable.

The Motorola Razr flip phone has a price tag of $1,499 in the U.S. It will be hitting the U.S markets in January  The 2020 foldable phone is facing criticism now since it commands an overwhelming price tag and offers inferior specs. There is no word on the China launch of the Motorola Razr. 

UP NEXT: Motorola Razr vs Samsung Galaxy Fold vs Huawei Mate X: Specs Comparison

(source)

The post World’s first foldable PC and Motorola Razr showcased at Tech World 2019 in China appeared first on Gizmochina.