Prototype: Lenovo's new laptop has a transparent display
26.2.2024
Translation: machine translated
Lenovo is showing a prototype laptop with a transparent display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It looks better than expected, but the search for meaning is still ongoing.
Transparent televisions have been around for for several years. When it comes to laptops, the prototype from Lenovo is the first device I know of where I can look through the display.
Large and bright: display surprises positively
The transparent micro LED display of the Lenovo prototype is 17.3 inches in size. It appears to be sandwiched between two panes of glass and has a typical brightness of 1000 nits. That's pretty damn bright for a notebook and ensures that the transparency is hardly distracting when I look at things on the screen. Even people or objects behind it are not distracting. Only when I minimise all windows does the background become completely transparent.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Technologically, Lenovo shows that a laptop with a transparent display is possible. When trying it out, however, it becomes clear that the devices are not yet ready for series production. The display is surprisingly easy to recognise. However, the blocking function to prevent prying eyes from the back is still missing. In addition, the hinges are not yet optimal and the touch keyboard reacts imprecisely.
Source: Jan Johannsen
The question of benefits
These are all things that can be fixed. The interesting question remains: What should people buy the notebook with a see-through display for? Especially since it would most likely be more expensive than a classic display.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Lenovo cites interactions between physical objects and virtual information as one possible application. For example, an architect could work with a laptop in front of the building site. The virtual keyboard would seamlessly become a drawing board with a pen.
According to the press release, Lenovo is hoping for "new ways of handling data and applications" and "opportunities to develop new functions and form factors". That sounds a bit like: We don't really have an idea yet, but we hope that something will come of our cool technology.
Source: Jan Johannsen
With transparent televisions, the argument that they do not disturb the interior design as much as a black surface is valid: accordingly, the manufacturers are already further ahead in their marketing.
Header image: Jan Johannsen
As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.