It wasn’t difficult to find a common thread among the new Windows laptops showcased at CES 2025. Beyond your expected next-generation refreshes, tech’s biggest trade show was all about getting more people to buy into the idea of AI-powered PCs this year.
With consumers still hesitant to embrace AI laptops, prioritizing hardware upgrades over fancy software features, companies’ selling points had to come from myriad angles. Most embraced affordability, committing to bringing Qualcomm’s upcoming entry-level Snapdragon X processor to dozens of budget-friendly machines. (Copilot+ PCs that cost as much as nice Chromebooks? Yes, please.) Some explored new build materials, targeting eco-conscious consumers with chassis made from oyster shells and ultralight “plasma ceramic aluminum.” One manufacturer straight-up renamed all of its long-standing laptop lines in the hopes of helping shoppers more easily find the AI PC that best suits their needs — though it doesn’t seem to have gone over so well.
Best of CES 2025: Everything that stole the show, according to our experts
And then there’s Lenovo, which launched a funky new “rollable” display AI laptop simply because it wanted to see what was possible with OLED technology. It’s actually real this time, too.
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