Katarzyna Petru
At the CES 2026, Lenovo, in conjunction with TCL CSOT, presented a conceptual laptop featuring a rollable OLED display that can change its aspect ratio from the classic 16:10 to ultrawide 21:9, and even 24:9 – all at the press of a button.
A year ago, during CES 2025, Samsung Display showcased the first expandable OLED screen for laptops, which expanded vertically to create a very tall display. This year's prototype takes a different, much more practical direction – the screen expands horizontally, which better suits the ways of consuming multimedia content and gaming. It's hard not to imagine working in 16:10, then launching a game in ultrawide – for example, Cyberpunk 2077 – or watching films in their native aspect ratios without black bars.
From 16:10 to 24:9
The default working mode of the panel is 16:10 with a resolution of 2048 x 1280 pixels. This is not particularly high pixel density, but the screen can be physically expanded to:
21:9 with a resolution of 2986 x 1280
24:9 with a resolution of 3413 x 1280
Wider formats are much better suited for films, series, and games, which are often created with cinema aspect ratios in mind. TCL CSOT describes the mechanism used as a system based on two engines and controlled tension, which allows for smooth expansion of the screen from both sides, with minimal vibrations and low noise levels. According to the manufacturer, the diagonal increases from 16 to 21.5 inches, and then to 24 inches, dynamically adjusting to the current needs of the user.
Fully operational prototype
Although we are dealing solely with a technology demonstration, the device is fully functional. Lenovo has equipped the laptop with an Intel Core Ultra processor and a mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, which clearly indicates that the concept is aimed at the premium segment – also in terms of gaming.
TCL increasingly invests in OLED
The project is also part of a broader strategy by TCL CSOT related to the development of OLED technology. The company already has a smaller OLED panel factory, but is concurrently building a massive 8.6 generation production plant worth $4.15 billion.
Importantly, this will be the world's first OLED production line using inkjet printing technology, which could significantly reduce the costs of producing large OLED panels in the future – not only for laptops but also for monitors and televisions. For now, the rolled OLED from Lenovo and TCL remains a concept, but CES 2026 clearly shows that flexible and variable screen formats are no longer a curiosity and are starting to genuinely meet user needs. If such a design goes on sale, it could completely change the way we think about screen format in laptops.
