Huawei patents a laptop that comes without a display or a keyboard

One of Huawei's latest patents filed with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) describes what it calls the "detachable electronic device", composed of a slim rectangular box with proprietary connectors along each long edge.

They are ostensibly intended to allow 2 different additional devices or accessories to slot into it, albeit possibly in different ways depending on which side they dock into. For example, it is obvious the connectors along one end of the device has been intended to accommodate a hinge.

This end is depicted as compatible with something that is most likely a display panel, whereas the other could connect to a keyboard. Therefore, the complete 3-part arrangement makes for a potential new type of laptop, with the "detachable" core as a hub (which may or may not have a top-mounted display of its own) within which important components such as a processor and graphics could be found.

Accordingly, it seems Huawei has seen other ideas such as Apple's new IP for what looks like a reboot of original models such as the II - not to mention things such as the keyboard-only MacBook and, of course, the Raspberry Pi 400 - and taken the concept a step further.

Then again, bringing this putative new kind of convertible PC to market might seem too little and too late in the face of the very possible rise of the foldable laptop, which may prove the more versatile and portable alternative in the end.

On the other hand, this new idea of Huawei's might have its place, particularly given the potential range and choice of dockable accessories - furthermore, the OEM could conceivably make the 'core' itself stackable with others, thereby possibly creating a whole new scalable solution.