At CES 2025, Intel gave journalists a sneak peek at their exclusive innovation showcase, which featured groundbreaking prototypes like next-generation laptops and a giant stereoscopic 3D handheld gaming computer. One thing that caught their attention was a heavy metal handheld with a detachable screen. When the screen was lifted, it effortlessly separated from the base. On top of the device was a laptop with a different plastic piece on the bottom that looked like it would fit perfectly with the detached screen.
The module itself contained a complete Intel Lunar Lake computer, containing everything needed for functionality except peripherals and a display. In essence, this is the modern turning point of Intel's computing card idea. However, unlike the calculation card, this modular PC concept is not exactly Intel's creation, and there is no sign that it will put the market.
The prototype comes from Quanta, a major Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) that designs and produces hardware for big-name brands but rarely markets its creations under its own name. Companies like Quanta, along with Compal, Pegatron, and Foxconn, operate behind the scenes to build the hardware we know and use daily. While this modular PC is an exciting computing concept, it's unlikely to become a consumer product.
But the rise of practical modularity in laptops offers hope for innovation in this area. Framework, a company that specializes in modular laptops, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, proving that repairability and modular design can thrive in the mainstream market. Even Dell took a big step in this direction at CES, unveiling its first modular, repairable USB-C port a small but significant step toward sustainable hardware.
