As flexible display panels become more common across consumer hardware, Techritual 香港 reported that foldable technology has moved from an expensive novelty into a versatile ecosystem of dual-screen laptops, bendable monitors, and compact accessories. While traditional clamshell notebooks have existed for decades, modern engineers are currently shipping folding panels and dual displays that command premium prices starting at 1,800 United States dollars, or roughly 14,040 Hong Kong dollars, creating a steep financial barrier for everyday buyers.
Hardware Evolution From Osborne 1 to Flexible Displays
Modern flexible computers trace their mechanical lineage back more than forty years. Early systems like the 1981 Osborne 1 and the 1982 Grid Compass established the basic clamshell blueprint used in standard laptops today.
Manufacturers have aggressively experimented with this form factor despite limited mainstream adoption. Asus launched the Zenbook 17 Fold in 2022, following up with first- and second-generation Zenbook Duo dual-screen machines alongside the ROG Zephyrus Duo gaming laptop. Hewlett-Packard entered the market in 2023 with the Spectre Fold, though the company has not released a successor in that specific product category since.
Lenovo remains one of the largest producers of flexible and rollable display systems. Lenovo manufactures the ThinkPad X1 Fold alongside the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, and has more concept devices.
Smartphone Adaptation and the High Cost of Folding Phones
Foldable smartphones have existed for nearly a decade, anchored primarily by Samsung and its continuous iterations of the Galaxy Z Fold series, which has now reached its eighth generation. Google, Motorola, and Apple with its iPhone Duo have also entered the folding smartphone sector alongside various China-exclusive devices.
Book-style folding phones combine a standard smartphone exterior with a small tablet interior, folding neatly to fit inside a pocket or small bag. Despite these ergonomic advantages, pricing remains high across the entire category. Even the cheapest large-format folding phones cost at least 1,800 United States dollars, translating to approximately 14,040 Hong Kong dollars. This elevated manufacturing cost continues to limit widespread adoption until original equipment manufacturers can successfully reduce production expenses.
Peripheral Diversification Across Mice and Displays
Flexible technology extends far beyond core computing devices into mice, portable monitors, and desktop screens. Microsoft introduced the original Arc mouse in 2008, revising the collapsing design multiple times over two decades to produce the current Surface Arc Mouse. Logitech entered this category with the Mobi Fold mouse, while alternative designs like the myAir.0 OriMouse target users seeking interactive folding mechanics.
Portable displays utilize similar flexible panel technology without internal processing hardware. Asus manufactures the ZenScreen Fold, a standalone monitor matching the dimensions of the Zenbook 17 Fold but lacking a central processing unit, graphics card, or random-access memory. Priced at 2,000 United States dollars, equivalent to roughly 15,600 Hong Kong dollars, the ZenScreen Fold allows users to carry a large screen inside a backpack, though high costs keep it outside the mass market.
Desktop display engineering has also incorporated adjustable curvature. Corsair and LG released the Corsair Xeneon Flex and LG LX3 desktop monitors in 2024, allowing users to manually adjust the screen curvature up to 800R or 900R from a completely flat surface.
| Device Category | Manufacturer | Model | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foldable Smartphone | Samsung | Galaxy Z Fold 8 | $1,800 |
| Portable Monitor | Asus | ZenScreen Fold | $2,000 |
| Dual-Screen Laptop | Asus | Zenbook Duo (Gen 2) | Varies |
| Foldable Mouse | Logitech | Mobi Fold | Varies |
