Foldable technology is no longer limited to smartphones. Laptops, computer mice, headphones and portable monitors are among the devices that have adopted designs intended to save space or change how a product is used, according to a recent overview of the category.

Foldable laptops have roots in early portable computers, but newer examples include machines with dual screens, flexible displays and rollable panels. ASUS has released products including the Zenbook 17 Fold and Zenbook Duo models, while Lenovo has developed the ThinkPad X1 Fold and the rollable-screen ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable. HP introduced the Spectre Fold in 2023, though the company has not returned to the category since, the overview notes.

Foldable smartphones remain a niche, despite nearly a decade of development since Samsung’s Galaxy Fold. Samsung’s Z Fold range has reached its eighth generation, while Google, Motorola and other manufacturers have also entered the market. The overview says large book-style models offer a phone that can open into a small tablet, but that even the least expensive options cost at least $1,800, making price a barrier to wider adoption.

Some folding devices focus more on portability than on adding new functions. Microsoft’s Arc mouse dates back to 2008, and the company continues to sell the Surface Arc Mouse. Logitech has also introduced its Mobi Fold, while the OriMouse from myAir.0 is another option. Over-ear headphones commonly fold or collapse to make them easier to pack, with examples including Audio-Technica’s M50x line and Beats Solo 4.

Portable monitors have also explored flexible screens. ASUS’s ZenScreen Fold was designed to provide a larger display that could fit into a backpack or small suitcase, but its $2,000 starting price limited its appeal, and the company has done little with the line since. The Corsair Xeneon Flex and LG LX3, meanwhile, are desktop monitors whose flexible displays can be adjusted from flat to curved, although neither folds in half.

The overview also mentions smaller folding accessories such as dongles and wireless charging pads. Its author’s current setup includes a second-generation Zenbook Duo, a Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Logitech’s Mobi Fold, combining a dual-screen laptop, a phone that opens into a tablet-sized display and a compact mouse.

Sources: Engadget.