News in the Channel - issue #36

CES 2026 REVIEW

Laptops to mobile: reinventing core devices Despite repeated predictions of decline, laptops were one of the strongest and most innovative categories at CES 2026. What has changed is not demand, but expectation. Today’s laptops must be AI-ready, flexible, sustainable and capable of serving multiple roles without compromise.

Lenovo ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept Lenovo again demonstrated its leadership in form-factor innovation with the ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept. Expanding vertically from a compact 13.3-inch footprint to nearly 16 inches, the device delivers more than 50% more screen real estate without increasing its physical size. Importantly, the Rollable XD feels less like a gimmick and more like a credible future product. The transparent Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover highlights the precision of the rolling OLED mechanism, while AI- driven features such as live translation, multimodal input, and lid-closed interactions point toward enterprise, collaboration and retail use cases. For the channel, it’s a strong signal that screen innovation is far from finished.

ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist

Moving firmly into commercial reality, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist showcased adaptive design done right. Its motorised rotating

hinge automatically adjusts the display based on posture, mode, or collaboration needs. This is not visual theatre, but a genuine productivity enhancement for SMBs, hybrid workers, and presentation- heavy roles. Built on Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with Copilot+ experiences, the Auto Twist reflects Lenovo’s focus on usable, business-ready AI devices. Intel Core Ultra Series 3: Intel Is Back A major enabler behind many of these designs was Intel Core Ultra Series 3, launched at CES 2026. Built on Intel’s 18A process, Series 3 delivers significant gains in performance per watt, integrated graphics, and AI acceleration, with up to 50 TOPS of NPU performance. Importantly, Intel positioned Series 3 not only for PCs, but also for edge and industrial applications such as robotics and automation. With over 200 designs launching, Intel made a clear statement that it is back as a serious force in the AI PC market.

Lenovo Legion Pro

Lenovo ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept

Rollable Concept

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept Lenovo extended this thinking into gaming with the Legion Pro Rollable Concept. Designed for esports the display expands horizontally from 16 inches to 21.5 inches and up to 24 inches, replicating tournament-grade setups in a portable device. Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series graphics, it combines elite performance with portability. While still a proof of concept, it demonstrates how even gaming laptops are being redefined.

Intel Core Ultra Series 3

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