Foldable-screen PCs are one of the biggest trends of CES 2020, but only one of the models on display could actually make a passable substitute for a desktop when it’s unfolded. That’s Intel’s "Horseshoe Bend" prototype, which can open up to a seamless 17.3-inch display that resembles a small all-in-one PC or a mobile monitor.
The Horseshoe Bend idea is very similar to Dell’s Concept Ori prototype and Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold, which is scheduled to go on sale this year. All three designs have displays that bend in the middle, and all of them can be propped up on a table with an external keyboard to function as a makeshift desktop when they’re not connected.
But thanks to its larger size, Horseshoe Bend’s key feature is its ideal blend of portability and desktop usefulness. Less than a decade ago, 17-inch desktop monitors were considered large, and now we’ve got the potential for a 17-inch monitor with an entire PC behind it that can fold down into the footprint of a 12-inch tablet.