Tag Archives: MWC

Realme’s latest phone comes with bizarrely fast 240W charging, and a Nothing-inspired light interface

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The Realme GT3 240W can juice your entire phone from 0% to 100% in less than 10 minutes… and just 30 seconds of charging could give you enough battery life for a 2-hour call on a 5G network. It’s so fast that wireless charging suddenly doesn’t seem convenient anymore.

While most of Realme’s presentation at MWC was just stats, there was a nifty 80-second demo of the GT3 charging at 240W, going from 0 to a staggering 23 percent in just the 1 minute and 20 seconds. In fact, the battery consumed most of the phone’s keynote, with a little time spent on a ‘new’ detail that Realme calls the Pulse Interface. Housed right beside the camera module, this interface borrows heavily from the Nothing phone (1)’s rear design, sporting a transparent window with an LED rectangle within it. The LED rectangle shines in 25 different colors, and can be customized for a wide variety of notifications, although its most important ones are to let you know when you’ve got a low battery, when you’re getting a call/notification, and when your phone’s actually charging. Additionally, you can make the lights glow ambiently while gaming or listening to music, or counting down the timer when you’re clicking a photo.

Designer: Realme

With more than 15 full minutes of the keynote being spent on the GT3’s battery alone, it’s probably the most notable feature on the phone. The 240W charging capabilities give you 20% in less than one and a half minutes, 50% in four minutes, and a full 100% in under ten minutes, making the GT3 the fastest-charging phone on the planet right now and making that red battery icon on the top right a thing of the past. The fast-charging feature works while the phone’s in use too, with Realme boasting of a o-100 in just 17 minutes if you’re playing a game.

You’d think that that kind of rapid charging does an absolute number on the battery, but Realme has us believe that their battery and phone architecture are designed to optimize and preserve battery health over time. For starters, the phone has three strategically-located chipsets in the phone dedicated to just charging, and a new stainless steel vapor cooling system to cool the GT3’s ultra-thin 4600mAh battery. The battery is built to charge optimally in both high heat and sub-zero temperatures, with a life cycle that’s double what the average phone has – 1600 charge cycles before the battery degrades to 80% health. To help facilitate this 240W charging feature, the GT3 also comes with its own GaN charging adapter and a rugged 12A charging cable.

Flip the phone over and you see its second standout feature – the Pulse Interface. Sort of like the Nothing phone (1)’s Glyph Interface, but with a palpable lack of, well, glyphs… the Pulse Interface sits right next to the camera bump, under a transparent window. The LED rectangle has the words ‘Dare To Leap’, Realme’s slogan, on it, and right in the center is a nameplate bearing the Snapdragon logo on it. You wouldn’t be alone in wondering whether that’s actually the phone’s chipset… although I hate to burst your bubble, but it isn’t. The chipset sits well within the phone, surrounded by the vapor-cooling system. This, right here, is just a nameplate that serves a branding purpose more than anything. There is, however, an NFC-reader located right below the Pulse Interface… just where it says ‘NFC’.

A close-up of the Snapdragon nameplate and the Pulse Interface

The interface lights up to signify a variety of notifications, with as many as 25 colors to choose from. You can customize the color and blinking pattern of the Pulse Interface to go with various alerts too, with even the ability to color-code certain contacts so you know when they’re calling even with your phone facing downwards. Moreover, the LED ring glows red when your battery’s depleted, blue, when it’s charging, and green when you’re at 100%, so you know when to unplug your charger. Alternatively, you could just wait 10 minutes and unplug your charger anyway!

The GT3 240W also comes with a 6.74-inch 144Hz Ultra AMOLED display that has an in-display fingerprint reader, three main cameras (50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro), and a 16MP wide-angle selfie camera. Available in 3 colors (black, white, and purple), the GT3 has five tiers to choose from, including a lower 8GB RAM + 128GB storage tier that starts at $649, going all the way up to an absolutely bonkers tier with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, whose price wasn’t disclosed at the announcement. Hey Realme… does the 240W charger come in the box?

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The OPPO Air Glass 2 is easily the most fashionably sleek AR wearable on display at MWC 2023

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In a sea of ski-goggle-shaped AR headsets, OPPO’s 2nd-gen Air Glass is slim enough to be mistaken for an actual pair of glasses. Look carefully, however, and you’ll notice the cleverly concealed reflective display in the eyepieces. To the wearer, however, the display impressively overlays virtual elements right on top of real life, helping you see the time, weather, notifications, etc.

Designer: OPPO

The Air Glass 2 was announced last year at OPPO’s INNO Day event, with a broader reveal at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It seems leaps and bounds ahead of the first Air Glass that debuted in 2021, with a mildly clunky, Google Glass-esque design. In its second iteration, the Air Glass 2 looks exactly like a regular pair of glasses, albeit with loads of impressive tech underneath its surface.

The Air Glass 2 is an ‘assisted reality’ wearable that now has two displays, one in each eyepiece. The way these displays work is using a MicroLED built into the frame, which projects images onto a resin SRG-diffractive optical waveguide lens, developed as a joint partnership between OPPO and meta-bounds. These new lenses are lighter, more drop-resistant, and safer, in line with consumers’ daily habits of using glasses, making them perfect for the Air Glass 2.

The eyepieces get their visuals from 0.13″ green microLED displays built into the sides of the eyewear, capable of outputting an impressive 1,000 nits per eye. You’ve also got an environmental light sensor, a touchpad for registering input, microphones, and speakers built into the Air Glass 2’s temple stems, completing the entire wearable experience. The glasses are powered by a Snapdragon 4100 processor, and the entire wearable runs on a built-in 200mAh battery that has a 3-hour lifespan and can be charged via a pogo-pin charger that connects to the end of the spectacles’ temple stems.

The entire hardware comes with a magnesium-lithium alloy outer construction and weighs a paltry 38 grams, making it about 8 grams heavier than its predecessor, but with double the tech. This lightweight design also means that the Air Glass 2 can’t be used as a standalone wearable. It needs to be wirelessly connected to a smartphone, which can then beam data to the eyepieces, allowing you to view navigation data, live translations, calendar alerts, weather updates, fitness tracking data, and other datasets. The microphone and speakers help wearers take calls, give voice commands, or even listen to music.

The OPPO Air Glass 2 app lets you control what you see in the eyepieces

Ultimately, the Air Glass 2 is perhaps the biggest flex from any company in the AR space (note: the Air Glass 2 is an ‘assisted reality’ wearable). The Air Glass 2 is surprisingly small and light, while looking just about as fashionable as any regular pair of acetate frames. The MicroLED display and diffractive optical waveguide lens system are light-years ahead of the competition, although the elements on the screen have their own limitations – they’re green, exist in only a small part of your FoV, and don’t do much as of now. That being said, the Air Glass 2 is still leaps and bounds ahead of other wearables, even though Google teased a similar pair of glasses last year in a concept video but didn’t show any actual hardware.

A close-up of the pogo-pin charger for the OPPO Air Glass 2

The OPPO Air Glass 2 was unveiled in both black and white frame variants, although pricing and release date details haven’t been made public. If this is anything like the 2021 Air Glass, OPPO will probably sell a limited number of units to enthusiasts in China before considering a global rollout.

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Unihertz Luna is a Nothing Phone (1) clone that turned eyeballs at MWC 2023

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The Nothing Phone (1) didn’t live up to its hype as expected (maybe the expectations were sky-high) and better is likely to come in its successor. That said a knock-off version of Carl Pei’s smartphone got spotted at the ongoing Mobile World Congress 2023. Carl was even seen holding the device alongside his own Phone (1) and the similarity is undeniable.

The mobile device in question is Luna designed by Shanghai-based Chinese firm Unihertz. On the back, there’s a transparent shell with LED light strips that glow up in different hues as compared to the milky white Glyph interface on the Nothing (1).

Designer: Unihertz

The 6.81-inch display smartphone has a comparatively rough design detail, and on the inside, the hardware is also mediocre. Hence, one cannot praise it on any performance metrics much. If you thought the Nothing Phone (1) fell short of fan expectations with the Snapdragon 778G+ 5G SoC, then the Unihertz Luna doesn’t overshadow the phone by any stretch of the imagination. It gets a below-average MediaTek Helio G99 processor.

Other specifications are good with the phone; sporting 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage, a 5,000mAh battery and 18W fast charging which should be good enough for most users. On paper, the rear-facing triple camera setup dominated by the 108MP camera and a 20MP Night Vision Camera seems like the USP of the device along with the colorful glyph interface. Not to forget mentioning, the device also has a 3.5mm jack, so audiophiles need to take note. On the front the device has a 32MP camera loaded with the Samsung S5KGD1 sensor, so it should be able to click good selfies.

The LED lights on the back can be toggled to any color which is a kind of cool feature. On the Nothing Phone (1) it is the glyph interface, but I’m sure Unihertz is going to have some fancy name for their version. For now, they are touting it as a simplified, geometric interface with minimalistic lines inspired by the ancient oriental philosophy of the round sky. As they very rhetorically put it, “The moon moves eternally in circles around the earth, and circular objects in the physical world are active, just like the round moon.”

Unihertz smartphone did turn heads at MWC this year, and according to company representatives, the mobile device should cost around $300. For that kind of price, the odd one or two compromises should not hurt a budget buyer. Especially the geometric interface with a customizable array of LED lights for app notifications and calls. The phone is slated for March 2023 release and should be interesting to see how it’s positioned in the global market.

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ZTE nubia NeoVision Glass AR eyewear hides in plain sight as oversized sunglasses

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Although it does have the word “mobile” in it, MWC has long ceased to just be about smartphones and tablets. These days, anything you can pick up and use on the go is labeled as mobile, sometimes including laptops. When it comes to portability, however, wearables have become quite the fad, and this category isn’t just limited to smartwatches or “hearables” like earbuds and hearing aids. One strong presence at MWC 2023 this year seems to be headsets and eyewear, particularly those designed for augmented and virtual reality applications. Not to be left behind, ZTE’s nubia is showcasing its first-ever AR eyewear, and it seems to be trying to be a bit more fashionable at the expense of a bit of freedom of movement.

Designer: ZTE

As far as mixed reality headgear and eyewear are concerned, the trend seems to be going in the direction of cramming all the necessary hardware inside the device, unlike the first-gen Oculus Quest and HTC Vive headsets that needed to be connected to a powerful PC with a cable. A standalone headset does have tradeoffs, though, especially when you consider the weight of the hardware and the built-in battery. That’s why some devices still try to aim for a completely lightweight and comfortable design, even if it means offloading the brunt of the work to external devices.

The new ZTE nubia NeoVision Glass is one such type of device. It’s incredibly lightweight at 79g, but it’s not lacking when it comes to display quality. It boasts Micro-OLED screens with 3500 PPI and a binocular resolution of 1080p, giving the wearer the equivalent of a 120-inch screen floating before their eyes. It doesn’t skimp on the audio either, with two omnidirectional speakers and a cyclonic sound tank. All in all, it promises a full range of multimedia experiences for both your ears and your eyes.

The nubia NeoVision Glass also advertises high compatibility with a wide range of devices, including phones, computers, and consoles. It’s “plug and play,” which suggests that it doesn’t come with its own computer inside, though ZTE wasn’t exactly clear on that part. It does mean that you can use any device or platform you want, though it also means you’ll be rooted on the spot near that device unless it’s something you can carry around.

ZTE does, however, pay special attention to both the looks of the eyewear as well as its accessibility. Magnetic lenses make it trivial to swap out different sunglasses designs, and it supports zero to 500-degree myopic adjustment for those that need to wear prescription glasses. It’s still relatively bulky compared to typical sunglasses, but few will realize that you’re viewing the world through a different set of lenses, figuratively and literally.

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ZTE nubia Pad 3D tablet offers an eyewear-free 3D experience for consumption and creation

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3D graphics and objects are becoming more prevalent in our modern lives, and not just because of their presence in movies and games. AR, VR, and everything in between all relies on the existence of virtual 3D objects to make their fabricated realities more believable. “Real” stereoscopic 3D, however, has had the stigma of requiring headgear or at least specialized eyewear to see, which was true only until recently. Some TVs and even some laptops have started offering the ability to view stereoscopic 3D without the eyewear, and ZTE nubia’s latest tablet is bringing that same experience to both content consumers as well as content creators in a more portable manner.

Designer: ZTE

Because of the way our eyes are positioned, we are able to see an object from different angles, creating this perception of a three-dimensional figure. Stereoscopic 3D systems mimic that phenomenon by forcing our eyes to see different parts of a flat image, practically turning it into an illusion. The simplest way to make this happen is by using some sort of filter between our eyes and the projected image, which is basically how those 3D movie glasses work. Fortunately, it’s now possible to make that happen without wearing anything, thanks to advancements in technology.

The ZTE nubia Pad 3D applies these principles using technology from a 3D company named Leia. If you’ve kept abreast with developments in this field, the technology might not sound that novel, but the partnership between ZTE and Leia does take things one step further. More than just display content created specifically for stereoscopic 3D viewing, the device can use AI to “convert” 2D content, like videos from streaming services, into a 3D experience, all in real time.

The tablet isn’t just made for viewing 3D content, though, since that would make it not too different from new “3D laptops.” It also comes with tools to create such stereoscopic 3D content, starting with dual 16MP cameras on the back and dual 8MP cameras on the front. The former helps in shooting and recording content in real 3D, while the latter can be used for making 3D video calls, presuming your platform of choice supports such a fancy thing.

As a tablet, the nubia Pad 3D is somewhat caught in the middle of the old and the new, powered by a last-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. The large 12.4-inch 2.5K screen, however, offers enough space for comfortable viewing of content, whether 2D or 3D, while four corner Dolby surround sound speakers complete the entertainment package. The full metal body design of the tablet looks a tad too plain, save for the dual cameras popping up from the edge, but a vegan leather case could help make it look a little more stylish, especially when shooting that 3D film masterpiece.

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iPhone-style satellite connectivity on an Android phone? Motorola’s dongle lets you send SOS texts anywhere

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Debuting (rather by surprise) at MWC 2023, the Motorola Defy Satellite Link does for all phones what Apple built into the iPhone 14 – gives them satellite connectivity so you can send texts in areas with little to no network coverage. The palm-sized dongle comes as a collaboration between Motorola and Bullitt, and connects to pretty much any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, making the potentially life-saving tech accessible to many more people.

Designer: Motorola & Bullitt

Built with a rugged IP68 waterproof and dustproof exterior, the Motorola Defy Satellite Link comes with a portable design that weighs a mere 3 ounces (70 grams) and can strap around your keychain or even onto your backpack using a simple carabiner clip and the strap-loop built onto the Defy itself. The Defy sports three buttons, including a power button and location button on the left, and a larger, more visible SOS button on the right. A USB-C port helps charge the Defy’s 600mAh battery, which lasts for “multiple days,” according to Motorola and Bullitt.

A hallmark of the Motorola Defy Satellite Link is that not only is it device agnostic (supporting both Android and iOS devices), but it can be used by multiple phones together once paired via Bluetooth. The large, orange SOS button on the right side helps instantly call for emergency assistance, tapping into Defy’s partnership with FocusPoint International, an ERaaS (Emergency Response as a Service) company with 24/7 monitored response centers in 120 countries that handle emergency and assistance requests. The location button built on the other side sends your current location to your close contacts, and the Defy even allows you to send text messages via the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app.

The $99 Defy Satellite Link can connect to geostationary satellites 22,300 miles (35,888 km) above the Earth using the 3GPP NTN open standard “direct-to-device” satellite communications technology, although hardware doesn’t factor in the subscription you have to pay to actually use the service. Just the SOS feature starts at $4.99 a month, and there’s also an optional $149 bundle that gets you the Defy dongle with a 1-year subscription that also includes 30 outgoing and incoming messages per month using the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app, available on Android and iOS devices.

Satellite coverage should be live across Europe and North America at launch, followed by Australia and New Zealand, Africa, and Latin America in mid-2023, according to a report by CNBC. It’s unclear when Asia (where Motorola’s parent company Lenovo is based out of) will get satellite coverage to support the Defy Satellite Link.

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OnePlus 11 Concept’s liquid cooling technology is another example of innovation that’s commercially useless

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It’s a great-looking concept, but is it capable of being more than just a concept?

Unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the OnePlus 11 Concept’s highlight feature is its ‘subsurface pipeline’ of liquid cooling, dubbed the Active CryoFlux cooling system (apparently it isn’t a dig at the Nothing phone (1)’s glyph interface). Designed to boost gaming performance by cooling the phone down by as much as 2°C, the Active CryoFlux cooling system also has the added advantage of literally looking cool too, with tiny bubbles traversing up and down the piping structure on the back panel and around the camera bump… but that’s pretty much all there is to it. Unveiled as a conceptual device, the smartphone’s cooling system seems to be nothing but an experimental technology that probably won’t make its way into phones because gaming phones are a niche that OnePlus has never catered to. So what exactly does the OnePlus 11 Concept hope to achieve? Well, Marques Brownlee rather bluntly says that it’s “just a PR stunt at the end of the day”.

Designer: OnePlus

After roughly a week of speculating what those blue lines on the phone’s rear were (notification lights, fingerprint sensors, etc.), turns out they’re OnePlus’ latest innovation in compact liquid cooling. The phone comes with an “industrial-grade piezoelectric ceramic micropump” and a network of pipes curving around the rear panel, which circulate a blue liquid around the phone’s battery and camera bump, cooling the device down by up to 2°C. It’s enough to result in a performance uplift of between 3 and 4 frames per second, or even help cool the phone while it’s charging, OnePlus says. Visually, it does add a unique dynamism to the phone’s rear. The blue pipes have pulsating, moving lights inside them, making it look like the liquid’s circulating around the chassis of the phone. Remarkably enough, the liquid cooling setup doesn’t even add any weight or thickness to the handset, making for a pretty compelling concept.

Although the amount of actual cooling the Active CryoFlux tech will do is pretty much debatable at this point (we can’t verify it either because it’s a concept), the focus of the phone really seems to be the ‘light show’ at the back. Somewhat feeling like a dig at Carl Pei, the 11 Concept’s rear light show also claims at being ‘functional’, like the Nothing phone (1)’s glyph interface. However, realistically, it really doesn’t merit proper discussion because the cooling feature isn’t really a feature if no consumer is ever going to benefit from it… and that really seems to be the ongoing trend with this current barrage of concept phones, whether it’s Xiaomi’s bonkers 12S Concept with attachable Leica lenses, or Lenovo/Motorola’s rollable phone from a few days back, or even OnePlus’ own concepts, including the partnership with McLaren in 2020.

The OnePlus 11 Concept is the third such concept from the Oppo subsidiary, following the Concept One with McLaren which featured electrochromic glass over the camera that turned opaque to block the lenses, and the 8T Concept, which had an entire back panel made from electrochromic glass, which could change color on demand, altering your phone’s aesthetic in seconds. As impressive as the technology seemed back then, it never was viable, given how expensive electrochromic panels were (Apple spent $427 million on electrochromic glass panels alone for their Cupertino HQ building windows). The Active CryoFlux cooling system on the 11 Concept is impressive too, but it feels like an R&D flex more than anything, with very little chance of application in real life. I’m willing to, however, give OnePlus the benefit of doubt that this technology will eventually be viable at scale and phones in the future will have oozing liquid-cooling pipes inside them. Until then, call me a skeptic… and call this a winning strategy because OnePlus got exactly what they wanted – coverage.

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Nokia G22 takes sustainability to heart, comes with a small but important caveat

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Today’s smartphones are beautiful pieces of technology, but their power and appearance come at more than just a literal price. To ensure their durability and secrecy, they are closed shut to ward off people trying to pry them open, even if those people are just trying to repair the phone. Those old enough to have seen the early days of mobile phones might fondly remember handsets like those from Nokia that let you easily swap a dead battery for a fully charged one. The original Nokia has long stepped away from this industry, but HMD Global has resurrected not only the brand but also some of its most iconic models. Its latest trick now is to also revive what made the old Nokia phones, specifically with a new Nokia G22 that is meant to be easily repaired, unlike most other phones today.

Designer: HMD Global

Smartphones have gotten a lot more complicated these days, so it’s not exactly surprising that they wouldn’t be easy to fix. At the same time, however, the industry has made it too expensive and restrictive to get these devices repaired by authorized service providers that some people are willing to take the risk with third-party shops. Phone makers have also been very careful in protecting their image and intellectual properties that they penalize even well-meaning people who just want to prolong their phone’s life.

Although things seem to have slowed down a bit, that status quo has slowly started to change for the better, with smartphone makers easing up on those repair restrictions. Unsurprisingly, the bigger brands like Apple and Samsung are still extremely cautious, but HMD Global is making a huge leap instead. The new Nokia G22, for example, was designed right from the start to be easy to open and repair, and the manufacturer even partnered with repair expert iFixit to sell replacement parts and provide guides.

Of course, not every part of the phone is repairable, with only the back cover, battery, screen, and charging port provided with replacements. Using a plastic guitar pick and a screwdriver, however, is exponentially easier than heating the phone’s back to loosen adhesives. The battery can also be pulled out with some effort but without having to use some alcohol to also loosen the glue. Replacement parts will be available for five years, potentially making the Nokia G22 the company’s longest-lasting phone.

The catch is that, in terms of hardware, the Nokia G22 isn’t exactly noteworthy, except for its large 5,050mAh battery. Replacing the battery still involves a bit of work, but HMD Global says that the alternative would be to have a smaller battery and a thicker phone. We’re still far, far away from having a premium flagship be this easy to repair, and it’s doubtful we’ll reach that point. Thankfully, some, like the Fairphone and this new Nokia G22, are offering alternatives to those who care more about the environment than having the latest and flashiest model every year or so.

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Lenovo at MWC 2023 offers to upgrade your hybrid work experience

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Although many businesses have gone back to working in the same office space, some a bit more controversial than others, a new kind of work arrangement has also arisen that gives people a bit more flexibility in where they can sit down to do work. Of course, that also needs a different set of tools, particularly mobile computers that are able to perform as well as desktops. Then again, not every hybrid worker needs a powerful behemoth of a laptop, and some have different requirements, like portability or even price. Catering to these varied needs is a Herculean task, one that Lenovo is facing head-on with an equally varied mix of PC solutions designed to empower users in this fast-changing world.

Designer: Lenovo

ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 (Gen 2)

Right at the top of the list are Lenovo’s powerhouses, bringing the best of the best when it comes to mobile computing. AMD Ryzen 7000 processors paired with the latest AMD Radeon 700M graphics cover all your bases, especially with a maximum capacity of 64GB of RAM. Even with a larger haptic touchpad, Lenovo’s iconic TrackPoint nub still takes center stage, especially with a customizable TrackPoint Quick Menu for easy access to most-used features, functions, and configuration options. Available in 13.3-inch (Z13 Gen 2) and 16.0-inch (Z16 Gen 2) sizes, these top-of-the-line Windows 11 laptops offer all the power that both office workers as well creatives need to do their best work.

Most notable is the ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 which comes with an optional new natural fiber material bonded to the 75% recycled aluminum top cover. Made from 100% agricultural product from flax plant fibers, the woven Flax material gives the laptop a unique visual as well as texture that is certain to grab the eye and envy of every passerby. Even without this distinctive cover, though, the new ThinkPad Z Gen 2 laptops convey a sleek and professional character that alludes to the powerful hardware running inside. The ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 arrives in July for $1,249, while the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 follows in August for $1,749.

ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga (Gen 4)

Some people prefer a laptop that is easier to slip into bags, and the sleeker, more portable ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 siblings definitely fit the bill. With narrower bezels, there is more room for the 13.3-inch 2.8K displays on both models, increasing the screen-to-body ratio and reducing the overall size. Powered by the latest Intel 13th-gen Core processors, with an AMD Ryzen 7000 option for the ThinkPad X13 Gen 4, these travel companions are no slouches when it comes to performance. Now equipped with front-facing speakers, they are also great for more immersive audio, whether it’s for a video meeting or for chilling with a film after work.

While the ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 comes in a traditional laptop form, the X13 Yoga Gen 4 flips that convention on its head, literally. With Lenovo’s signature 360-degree hinge, it takes almost no effort to transform the work laptop into an entertainment machine, presentation display, or creative canvas, all without having to switch computers. Available in Black and Storm Gray colors, the ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 and ThinkPad X13 Yoga Gen 4 will launch sometime in May 2023 with starting prices of $1,099 and $1,379, respectively.

ThinkPad T Series

Lenovo churns out new laptops year after year like clockwork. While some models are relatively new, others can trace their origins back decades, at a time when the “ThinkPad” brand was best known for high-end laptops catering to business needs. The ThinkPad T Series has long been fulfilling that role back when it was still under IBM’s watch in 2000, and this year’s newest additions to the family bring a plethora of options to meet the different needs of businesses, whether it’s for video conferencing or for comfortable use.

As business workhorses, it’s not surprising to see the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4, T16 Gen 2, and T14s Gen 4 equipped with the latest high-end processors from Intel and AMD. These 14-inch and 16-inch laptops offer a variety of options when it comes to screen resolution, including a new 2.8K OLED panel for the T14 and T14s. Although video conferencing has become more common, it’s still not something universally required, so Lenovo leaves the door open to have a 5MP webcam configured for these laptops. Additionally, these cameras can be equipped with an IR sensor for better depth detection as well as face recognition. ThinkPad T14s, T14, and T16 will be available in May with start prices of $1,479, $1,239, and $1,269, respectively.

ThinkPad L Series

While everyone will probably want a powerful laptop, the sad truth is that these machines aren’t always within reach, especially when considering the price tag. Some will be willing to compromise on a few aspects for a more accessible figure, but that doesn’t mean they have to give up on the essentials. The 2023 ThinkPad L family was made especially for this situation, with a variety of sizes, forms, and hardware that customers can change to hit that sweet spot of performance and price.

The ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 and L13 Yoga Gen 4, for example, now offer a TUV Low Blue Light screen option that will help protect their users’ eyes while working or, in the case of the Yoga variant, enjoying a good video binge. The ThinkPad L14 Gen 4 and L15 Gen 4, on the other hand, now offer twice the maximum storage capacity, now up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. Whichever of these four models you pick, you’ll still have access to either a 13th-gen Intel processor or an AMD Ryzen 7000, paired with your choice of Intel, AMD Radeon, or even NVIDIA graphics. They will all land on April 2023, starting at $869 for the ThinkPad L13 Gen 4, L14 Gen 4, and L15 Gen 4, and $1,099 for the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4.

ThinkPad E Series

You might think that “E” stands for “Economy,” and you won’t be completely wrong. Aimed at “value-conscious” customers, the ThinkPad E gives small and medium businesses the power they need without going broke. For 2023, that means access to 13th-gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 7000 processors with up to 40GB of RAM, which is definitely an odd number. You can also squeeze in two 1TB SSDs for all your storage needs, while the new 16:10 screen ratio leaves more room for content.

The 14-inch ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 is joined this year by the newest member of the family, the 16-inch ThinkPad E16 Gen 1. With an increased screen-to-body ratio and a matching larger 115mm touchpad, users won’t have to compromise on productivity just because they’re setting their sights a little bit lower. The ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 will start at around $739, while the ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 will go for $759, both arriving in May.

IdeaPad Duet 3i and Slim 3 Chromebook (Gen 8)

Lenovo has long expanded its portfolio to include other form factors and even operating systems, all in the name of providing people with the portable computers they want and need. The new IdeaPad Duet 3i, for example, is an 11-inch detachable 2-in-1 Windows 11 device that can be a laptop or a tablet, depending on what you need at the time. Slim and stylish, it makes for a perfect companion for students, allowing them to be productive and creative wherever they go. Power by the latest Intel N200 processor, this multifunctional computer won’t launch in North America but will be available in the EMEA region by June for 449€, roughly $479.

The IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Gen 8, on the other hand, looks like a typical laptop but runs something other than Windows. With Google’s Chrome OS and a MediaTek Kompanio 500 processor, this thin and lightweight laptop is made especially for users often on the go, allowing them to immediately pick up where they left off. This highly portable and Web-centric laptop will go for around $340 and will arrive in May 2023.

ThinkCentre TIO (Gen 5)

Even with large laptop screens going as big as 16 inches, there are still some tasks that are better done on an even bigger display. When you do need to settle down on your desk at home or in the office, Lenovo’s fresh and new ThinkCentre TIO (Tiny-in-One) Gen 5 computers will help you get that work done. Combining a 21.5-inch or a 23.8-inch monitor with a Tiny desktop unit, this product line trades portability with modularity, letting you upgrade one or the other part only as needed.

This year’s models put special focus on everyone’s favorite video conferencing, upgrading the webcam to a 1080p shooter and equipping the monitors with a mic and two front-facing speakers. The sRGB FHD displays now also use natural blue light filtering to protect users’ eyes and can even be configured with ten-point touch capabilities. The Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One (TIO) Gen 5 starts sales in August with starting prices of $274 and $294 for the 22-inch and 24-inch models, respectively.

Changing for a Greener Tomorrow

With more and more new computers being made each year, the dangers these products pose to the planet’s health also grows. From the materials used to the manufacturing process to even shipping, consumer electronics like laptops and smartphones make human lives more convenient at the expense of the environment. Fortunately, companies have started to take notice, and Lenovo continuing investment in a more resilient and more sustainable business tries to make up for bad habits to help heal the planet slowly but surely.

In addition to reducing carbon emissions through more efficient manufacturing and the use of renewable energy, Lenovo has also started to switch to sustainable aviation fuel and biofuels to similarly reduce the negative impact of shipping. These early 2023 laptops have also increased their use of recycled materials and Post Consumer Content plastic, both in the chassis as well as some components. It might take a long while before sustainable laptops become the norm, but every little step forward counts, especially when from a reputable giant such as Lenovo.

The post Lenovo at MWC 2023 offers to upgrade your hybrid work experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lenovo rollable phone and laptop at MWC 2023 paint an alternate future of flexibility

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Foldable phones might be starting to become a little bit more common, but they aren’t the only way to get a larger screen without increasing the phone’s size. Due to their relative simplicity and fewer moving parts, however, they are easier to develop and manufacture, at least compared to other alternatives. That doesn’t mean foldable displays are the best, though, just that they’ve had a long time stewing in labs and factories. Rollable screens are slowly catching up, especially in the TV and signage space, because of their space-saving feat. That is still something not completely feasible for mobile devices, but at MWC 2023, Lenovo is showing off not one but two such concepts that could help change the way we use smartphones and laptops, hopefully for the better.

Designer: Lenovo

Rollable Phone Concept

A foldable phone technically only needs strong and reliable hinges, while any device with a rollable screen will need some form of motor, which increases the likelihood of something breaking over time. While that might sound like a major disadvantage, the deforming screen has the advantage of being able to hide portions of the screen that don’t need to be used, unlike a foldable display that is only an either-or arrangement. There have been quite a number of ideas on how to put this into practice, and Lenovo is now publicly revealing two of the concepts that it has been developing for some time now.

We’ve actually seen some rollable phone prototypes in the past few years, including one from LG that almost made it to the market. Lenovo puts a unique spin on this concept by having part of the screen hidden at the back of the phone when it’s in its compact 5-inch form. A double press of the side button raises the top of the phone, rolling the screen to extend to its full 6.1 inches. Expanding and shrinking the phone can be done manually with that side button, but it can also be made to roll automatically depending on the app being used.

When in its smaller configuration, the small section of the screen on the back can be used as a second viewfinder, showing the camera’s preview or animations to catch kids’ attention when taking photos. Interestingly, the screen also rolls down slightly to reveal the front-facing camera at the top, hiding underneath the display. The prototype phone weighs around 310g, which is considerably heavier than most phones today and has a middling 3,000mAh battery. That said, it’s also still in its early stages, and there’s definitely a lot of room for improvement in other aspects.

Rollable Laptop Concept

Lenovo is, of course, primarily a PC manufacturer, so it’s no surprise that it also has a rollable laptop prototype to show off. Foldable laptops have only started to become available to consumers, and these early models still have a lot of room to grow. A laptop with a rollable screen, however, would have a very different form factor and use case, and it’s all for helping people be more productive, especially when dealing with long documents or scrolling Web pages.

This laptop prototype starts with a traditional 12.7-inch screen that grows to 15 inches when the rest of the display rolls out from underneath the keyboard. In this form, the focus is simply providing more screen real estate to fit more content rather than changing the device’s form significantly. That may sound a bit limiting, but it is also more conventional and easier to understand for most people who really just want a larger screen without a large laptop.

Lenovo says that the prototype’s rollable panel has the same durability as the ThinkPad X1 Fold, which means it has been tested for 20,000 to 30,000 cycles of rolling up and down. The laptop is rather thick at 17.9mm, but like the rollable phone, it is still in its infancy as an R&D device. There is no promise that it will become a product you’ll be able to buy, but it’s definitely reassuring that the world’s biggest PC maker continues to innovate and challenge conventions to push the envelope of computing.

The post Lenovo rollable phone and laptop at MWC 2023 paint an alternate future of flexibility first appeared on Yanko Design.