Lenovo's folding tablet is looking better, but still not ready

Lenovo hasn't given up on the dream of folding displays. The company showed off a prototype of the Folio, a tablet that can fold in half, transforming from a 7.8-inch tablet to a 5.5-inch smartphone. A demonstration of the product in a video online clearly shows it's not ready for release, but it certainly shows promise.

It's no wonder that Lenovo finds itself in a race with Samsung to put out the first folding smartphone or tablet device. Rumors have circulated that Samsung might put out the first folding smartphone this year, but those rumors quickly changed to indicating such a smartphone would use two separate displays. A folding screen would have to come later.

Beyond the folding screen, the Lenovo Folio runs on a Snapdragon 800 processor. The company's custom version of Android 7.0 Nougat adapts to whether the screen is compact or unfolded so users can get a smartphone or tablet interface as appropriate.

Sadly, but expectedly, Lenovo isn't bringing this device to market anytime soon. It's good to see developments in this technology, though. Though Samsung is known to have been working on folding displays, the company has remained hushed about its own work. Lenovo has more to gain by showing off, though. And we all have more to gain by any showing off. More folding screens, please!