Folding smartphones have been round for a few years and are nearly on the verge of turning into mainstream. However what these foldable screens imply for laptops was not clear. However because of some daring steps taken by PC market chief Lenovo, clear use instances and usable type components are rising.
I’ve been utilizing and testing the world’s first and solely rollable laptop computer—ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable (I do know, fairly a mouthful), for just a few weeks, and checked out new ideas reminiscent of Legion Professional Rollable and ThinkPad Rollable XD at CES 2026, in addition to ThinkBook VertiFlex and Auto Twist AIPC at IFA 2025. These spotlight the development and early goal customers, reminiscent of content material creators, players, particular enterprise personas, and others.
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Bringing design innovation and pleasure to laptops
Ever since their inception within the Eighties, laptops have at all times been clamshell rectangular containers, with a show on one facet and a keyboard on the opposite. Positive, thickness and weight have lowered, battery life has elevated, show sizes have modified, efficiency has improved by magnitude, however the primary form and look haven’t modified a lot. This can be a far cry from how telephones have developed, from characteristic telephones to keyboard telephones (BlackBerry), contact screens, curved shows, and to the newest foldables.
Lenovo has been making an attempt to vary that by introducing design innovation and respiratory new life into the laptop computer class. It pioneered the 2-in-1 type issue with a 360-degree hinge in 2012, launched the primary business laptop computer with a vertical rollable show in 2025, and showcased a slew of rollable type components at varied commerce exhibits.
In a current dialogue on my Tantra’s Mantra podcast, Tom Butler, Lenovo’s VP of worldwide business portfolio, in contrast these new formfactors to idea vehicles that automobile firms demo at business occasions. The idea units might or will not be launched as is, however the applied sciences and designs are certainly commercialized in future merchandise.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable — world’s first rollable laptop computer
This was the primary incarnation of the rollable laptop computer idea. I’ve been utilizing this system for just a few weeks and have additionally been speaking to a couple probably enterprise customers about it. It appears like an everyday 14-inch laptop computer, however its display screen extends vertically to a 16.7-inch (diagonal) portrait-mode show. The idea was introduced in 2022, the prototype was displayed at MWC in March 2025, and the business model shortly began delivery in June 2025. The laptop computer is presently offered out on the Lenovo website, primarily because of the restricted manufacturing run. It’s also discontinued, most likely in preparation for its subsequent model. Nonetheless, it’s a good proxy for such units that can come sooner or later.
The show of this laptop computer, which extends and shrinks with the press of a button, looks as if sheer magic. It seems it has many sensible use instances too. On the very outset, it will be preferrred for anyone working with long-format content material. On the prime of the listing are content material creators, in addition to people who cope with lengthy paperwork, reminiscent of authorized and monetary professionals, contract personnel, software program/ net builders, and the like.
In immediately’s cell age, content material, particularly visuals and movies (e.g., Instagram), is optimized for smartphone screens, i.e., for portrait mode. Normally, content material creators use desktop PCs or laptops with vertically mounted exterior shows for modifying and managing such content material. This laptop computer could be preferrred for them. Even for customers, watching such content material on a big vertical show would maximize display screen actual property slightly than becoming it on a horizontal display screen with loads of unused house. Since social media is optimized for scrolling, an extended vertical show is nearly a match made in heaven.
For people who learn, write, overview, and debug long-form paperwork, a vertical prolonged show means fewer page-ups/downs and back-and-forth, which instantly interprets into improved productiveness. Contemplating that the enterprise personnel who deal with such content material are often extremely paid (e.g., legal professionals, monetary analysts, software program builders), even small productiveness positive factors may yield important value and time financial savings.
Personally, I’m a giant consumer of X (Twitter) and LinkedIn, each of that are optimized for vertical content material. Therefore, I discovered this laptop computer extraordinarily helpful. I live-tweet/put up from occasions, throughout which, along with sharing my very own opinions, I’ve to watch social media developments and what others put up repeatedly. In such a case, this show is a lifesaver, as I can overview a big chunk of content material with a fast look with out scrolling. As an analyst, I additionally learn loads of paperwork and stories and overview lengthy spreadsheets, and so on. For all of this, I discovered firsthand that the productiveness enhancements are actual.
There are two issues you need to take into account earlier than shopping for this or any such rollable product. First, its worth! Being the primary such laptops available on the market, they are going to be priced as a premium providing (this rollable retailed at $3499). Which means it’s well-suited solely for many who can notice productiveness positive factors and obtain affordable RoI. Second, it’s weight. Due to the bigger show and rolling mechanism, such laptops will likely be barely heavier. Which means your utility of the bigger display screen needs to be sufficient to justify lugging the additional weight on a regular basis.
Since rollable shows are versatile OLED shows, not conventional glass screens, you additionally want to make sure the show high quality meets your wants, particularly in case you are a graphics artist, and so on. Additionally, they’ve transferring elements, and the rolling mechanism remains to be in its early phases; you must be cognizant of the working setting, reminiscent of the results of mud, moisture, and so on.
Simply to make sure, throughout my restricted use, I didn’t encounter any of those points, and the consumer expertise was similar to that of conventional laptops, in fact, with the added advantages of the massive show. Lenovo charges the rolling mechanism for 20,000 rolling cycles, which cowl most, if not all, use instances. I additionally acquired good battery life (nearly a full day), even with prolonged, absolutely rolled-out show time.
Backside line, in case you are one of many goal customers and personas recognized above, and might afford the value tag, shopping for these laptops is a sensible selection.
Much more thrilling rollable ideas coming quickly
As talked about, Lenovo is engaged on a broad portfolio of rollable idea units, most of which have been proven throughout its personal and business occasions.
The primary one is ThinkPad Rollable XD, an evolution of the Gen 6 rollable, and certain its substitute. On this, the extra display screen, when not in use, as a substitute of stowed away, wraps round and works as a secondary show. This may allow many fascinating use instances that enhance productiveness. For instance, to share the display screen with someone in entrance of you, say for translation and different interactions, for customer support terminals, and so on. Additionally, when the laptop computer is closed, the exterior show can be utilized for notifications, fast lookups, and so on., minimizing the necessity to open the laptop computer and fireplace up the entire display screen, mimicking the way in which foldable telephones work. This may even enhance battery life.
Essentially the most thrilling idea was the Legion Professional Rollable gaming PC, which expands laterally to show a typical 15-inch show right into a 24-inch-wide display screen. This is able to be an on the spot hit if priced proper. Additionally, the elevated weight of rollable laptops could be negligible in comparison with the often heavy gaming laptops.
Going again to the notion of mimicking the smartphone expertise on laptops, the Vertiflex brings it even additional with no rollable show. It permits the show to rotate 90 levels and change between panorama and portrait modes. That is performed manually, requiring a easy hinge mechanism with out the additional weight or complexity of the rollable show.
I’m certain that is solely the start of those new type components. The rollable idea permits designers to go wild and experiment like by no means earlier than. And with Lenovo’s confirmed observe report of shortly commercializing them, foldables are charting a brand new path for laptops, and customers are in for an thrilling journey.
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