At CES 2025, Intel invited journalists to a private “innovation showcase” where they saw next-generation laptop prototypes, a giant stereo 3D handheld gaming PC, and more.
While I was there, I also found a heavy metal handheld on the table that didn’t appear to be fully attached to the screen. It came off easily when I lifted the screen.
It felt too light to be a real tablet, so I flipped it over and saw three connectors underneath.
On the shelf above it was a laptop with a suspiciously sized chunk of plastic on the bottom, but it appeared to be a perfect match. A minute later, Intel gaming evangelist Colin Helms confirmed: I was looking at a concept modular PC.
This module contains all the features needed to run a complete Intel Lunar Lake computer, i.e., outside of the peripherals and screen. This is essentially a reboot of Intel’s abandoned Compute Card idea, but since this isn’t all done by Intel, you probably shouldn’t expect it to ship.
This is a concept from Quanta. Quanta is an ODM that designs and manufactures hardware (including Compal, Pegatron, Wistron, and Apple’s well-known iPhone supplier Foxconn), so its name typically appears on the laptops and tablets it makes. Not. On behalf of the brand name.
Quanta calls the entire modular system “AI8A,” and the core of it is the aforementioned module “Detachable AI Core.” Helms said it could also connect to other concept computers, such as all-in-one desktops, which Intel didn’t have to show off. And perhaps, like the Compute Card idea, you could upgrade your computer by simply installing new modules.
The modular laptop also has so many additional features that Intel’s CES staff hasn’t worked out yet.
First, the laptop has a power hinge, so you can tell the laptop to open and close its own lid. It also claims to offer eye-tracking functionality that allows you to move your multitasking window just by looking where you want it to appear. Apparently the mouse is built into the ring and you can wear it.
The most common ones include a Qi wireless charging pad built into the palm rest and an indicator light to show how much battery power is left.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to try any of them to see if they work. I also couldn’t ask what “AI8A” meant. That’s because I thought it was incorrectly written as Aiba until I looked at the photo more closely. I also couldn’t hot-swap the module between my handheld and laptop, since the module apparently doesn’t have a built-in battery.
Again, this is a cool computing concept car. This computer is unlikely to ship, even in a more practical, less flashy form. Thankfully, since Intel’s Compute Card went away, we’re starting to see some real, practical modularization in the laptop space. Framework just celebrated its fifth anniversary this week, and Dell took a small step forward at CES with its first modular repairable USB-C port.
Photo by Sean Hollister/The Verge
