At CES 2026, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm unveiled new mobile processors promising enhanced performance, AI capabilities, and battery life for upcoming laptops. Manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Lenovo highlighted modular designs to improve repairability and sustainability. This shift responds to customer demands for longer-lasting devices, especially in enterprise settings.
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas showcased a wave of innovative laptops blending cutting-edge silicon with user-friendly modularity. New processors from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm will drive improvements in CPU power, graphics, AI features, and endurance across ultraportables to gaming rigs.
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 leads the modularity trend with its Space Frame design, allowing easy access to components like the battery, keyboard, fans, speakers, and USB ports via a removable bottom panel and keyboard. It runs on Intel's Core Ultra X7 Series 3 processors from the Panther Lake lineup, though RAM remains soldered.
Dell reversed its controversial rebranding by reviving the XPS 14 and XPS 16, featuring familiar aesthetics, latest Intel chips, and OLED displays up to 3,200x2,000 resolution, alongside ample RAM and storage options.
MSI refreshed its Prestige 14 and 16 business laptops with a sleek, edge-smoothed chassis, OLED screens, and strong battery performance. For gamers, the Raider 16 Max HX introduces a removable back panel for RAM and SSD upgrades, powered by Intel Core Ultra 200 HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs.
Acer's Swift Edge 14 AI and 16 AI models incorporate a stainless steel-magnesium chassis for added strength and reduced weight, supporting up to Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage.
Asus partnered with GoPro for the ProArt PX13 GoPro Edition, a durable 13-inch, three-pound all-metal laptop with AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 395, up to 128GB RAM, and 2TB storage, plus a one-year GoPro Cloud Plus subscription.
HP's EliteBoard G1a reimagines portability by merging computing and keyboard into one unit, compatible with monitors and equipped with AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 PRO 8C, up to 64GB RAM, 2TB storage, and 4K support at 60Hz.