I tried Lenovo’s Project Swan and its expanding screen might finally kill the portable monitor

Lenovo's new Project Swan concept laptop aims to replace portable monitors by transforming into a larger 17-inch workstation on demand. Unlike a bulky portable monitor, Project Swan maintains a slim 17.9mm chassis when folded up. At just 3.5 pounds with its screen folded, it's portable enough for airplane tray tables while expanding to full size at a hotel desk or coffee shop.

Equipped with two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and a rear USB-C port for charging, the laptop retains Lenovo's signature keyboard and spacious trackpad. Expanding the screen with a simple key press provides extra horizontal space for running two apps side-by-side, which could be a game-changer for business travelers. While the concept still lacks a full 21:9 aspect ratio that an ultrawide monitor offers, it represents a major step forward in offering on-the-go desktop-like screen real estate.

Whether Lenovo brings a retail version to market remains to be seen, but if it does, business travelers may soon have a compelling reason to leave external monitors at home.