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IFA 2022: Asus launches its foldable OLED laptop for £3,000

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Asus launches a futuristic laptop with a 17-inch FOLDABLE touchscreen at IFA 2022 – but it will set you back a whopping £3,000

  • The ‘futuristic device’ was launched by the firm at IFA Berlin on Wednesday
  • It has a 17.3-inch foldable OLED touchscreen with a hinge down the middle
  • It will be available in the fourth quarter of the year and cost a hefty $3,499

Taiwanese company Asus has launched the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, a laptop with a foldable screen, but it will set users back £3,000.

The ‘futuristic device’, launched at IFA Berlin on Wednesday, has a 17.3-inch foldable OLED touchscreen with a hinge down the middle.

Asus says the touchscreen folds down to a compact 12.5-inch size, making it smaller than a sheet of photocopier paper for carrying in your bag.

The device will roll out globally during the fourth quarter (the last three months of the year) but it won’t come cheap – prices start at an eyewatering $3,499 (£3,000).

Taiwanese company Asus has launched the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, a laptop with a screen that folds down the middle

Taiwanese company Asus has launched the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, a laptop with a screen that folds down the middle

The 'futuristic device', launched at IFA Berlin on Wednesday, has a 17.3-inch foldable touchscreen that can be divided into different displays

The ‘futuristic device’, launched at IFA Berlin on Wednesday, has a 17.3-inch foldable touchscreen that can be divided into different displays

WHAT IS IFA BERLIN?

IFA, or Internationale Funkausstellung, is one of the world’s leading trade shows for consumer electronics and home appliances.

The first IFA event in December 1924 focused on innovations in the radio sector, but it has since encompassed a wide range of technology demos.

In 2020, IFA took place a three-day event with a limited number of participants due to the Covid pandemic, although the 2021 event was cancelled.

Zenbook 17 Fold OLED gives users two sizes of OLED display in one device – firstly, a large 17.3-inch 2.5K touchscreen that folds in the middle.

When folded fully closed, it’s a compact and portable 12.5-inch device that’s smaller than a sheet of photocopier paper.

Asus says it folds along a precision-engineered 180-degree hinge that is tested to withstand over 30,000 open-and-close cycles.

When unfolded, users can also divide the screen up into segments that each show different applications – for example, Excel, Outlook and Google Chrome.

Zenbook 17 Fold OLED comes with a Bluetooth keyboard, although it also works with a virtual keyboard that takes up one of the screen’s segments.

Asus says the device can be used like a tablet (with the screen fully unfolded), a laptop (with the screen partially folded while using the keyboard) and an e-book (held open like a book).

Zenbook 17 Fold OLED was first unveiled in January at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, but Asus has officially launched the device at IFA Berlin today.

Taiwanese firm Asus is expected to show off the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, the 'world's first foldable laptop' (pictured)

Taiwanese firm Asus is expected to show off the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, the ‘world’s first foldable laptop’ (pictured)

Held annually, IFA, or Internationale Funkausstellung, is one of the world’s leading trade shows for consumer electronics and home appliances, held annually in Berlin.

This year’s IFA runs from September 2-6 and is the first full-scale in-person event for three years, due to disruption by the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

More than 1,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries will present their products to retailers, buyers and industry experts, including Samsung, LG, Huawei and Nokia.

MailOnline is attending the show, bringing you all the latest news as it happens from Berlin.

SAMSUNG SHOWCASES WILD FOLDABLE DEVICES AT CES 2022

Samsung debuted several new folding gadgets at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, both smartphones and laptops that either have an S- or G-shape design.

The ‘S’ design features three panels that fold out to make a larger tablet-like device, while the ‘G’ folds inward on all sides, allowing you to store away the device without scratching the display.

During a presentation at CES, Samsung showcased the Flex Note that went from a 13-inch tablet to 17 inches when fully expanded, and the Flex Slidable smartphone with a display that extends to the side.

Samsung debuted several new folding gadgets at CES 2022, smartphones and laptops (pictured), which either have an S- or G-shape folding design

Samsung debuted several new folding gadgets at CES 2022, smartphones and laptops (pictured), which either have an S- or G-shape folding design

Although these devices are concepts, Samsung did launch a new smartphone at the consumer tech event – the Galaxy S21 FE.

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