We've tested several generations of the Lenovo Legion 5i, and always found it to be a well-rounded creative, work, and gaming laptop. So, this deal on the Lenovo Legion 5i for $1499 (was $2200) at Walmart caught my eye.

The powerhouse combines an Intel Core i7-14700HX processor with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The 15.1-inch WQXGA OLED display pairs a 165Hz refresh rate with Lenovo's PureSight technology and anti-burn-in measures.

Legion Coldfront cooling helps manage temperatures under heavy loads, and you get TrueStrike keyboard and AI Engine+, plus three months of Microsoft 365 Personal.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo Legion 5i if...

You want a creative laptop with enough power to handle most tasks you throw at it. The RTX 5060 and Core i7-14700HX make for a capable combination, while the 165Hz OLED panel provides the fast refresh rate gamers look for alongside the contrast and image quality associated with OLED.

❌ Skip the Lenovo Legion 5i if...

Portability and long unplugged runtimes often matter more than performance. Powerful HX-series processors, discrete graphics, and high-refresh OLED displays aren't designed primarily around maximizing battery life. You may also want more than 16GB of RAM if you're planning on running particularly demanding workloads.

Why we recommend it

The Legion 5i packs several features we'd want from a modern laptop into one machine. You're getting RTX 5060 graphics rather than an older-generation GPU, a powerful 20-core Core i7-14700HX processor, and a fast OLED display instead of the more ordinary IPS panels found on many notebooks.

The 1TB SSD also provides a reasonable starting amount of storage for all your main files and applications.

Price context & historical value

Deals on high-powered creative laptops with graphics cards can sometimes be a bit underwhelming, but this one

The current $1,499 price is particularly interesting because we saw this laptop discounted to $1,621 just last week. That's another $122 knocked off in a matter of days, and Walmart lists the standard price at $2,199.99.

Compared with that price, you're saving $700.99, or almost 32%. Anyone who considered buying it during last week's deal will obviously be getting a substantially better offer now.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 16GB of RAM is adequate for most basic tasks today, but it's relatively modest alongside the powerful CPU and GPU, particularly if you also plan to use the laptop for heavy creative work.

There's a student bundle, and this has eligibility requirements, requires post-purchase redemption, and includes subscriptions that automatically renew.

While it's nice to get three months of Microsoft 365 Personal with it for free, that time will fly by and you'll need to think about what you'll do when the trial expires.

Also consider

The ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 is one of those rare 5-star laptops that proved exceptional for engineering students and professionals running graphics-heavy workloads. ANd right now, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 now $6711 (was $7989) at Lenovo.

That's a massive $1278 discount on a workstation built to tackle demanding workloads including CAD, 3D rendering, AI development, and complex data analysis. It's equipped with an Intel Core Ultra Ultra 9 275HX processor, Nvidia RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell graphics with 12GB of GDDR7 memory, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a lightning-fast 2TB PCIe Gen5 SSD.

For the Core Ultra 7 model with RTX Pro 300 GPU, I've found it cheapest for $4699 on Amazon.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 if...

You need uncompromising performance for demanding professional workloads. The combination of RTX PRO graphics, 64GB of memory, and a high-performance Gen5 SSD makes it ideal for the most intensive tasks.

The color-accurate display, enterprise security, and legendary ThinkPad reliability also make it an excellent investment for professionals who rely on their laptop every day.

❌ Skip the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 if...

Your workload revolves around web browsing, office documents, streaming, or light photo editing. This workstation is designed for demanding professional applications, so you'll pay for performance that many users simply won't need.

It's also larger and heavier than a typical productivity laptop, making portability less of a priority than raw computing power.

Why we recommend it

The ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 isn't simply a high-end laptop, it's a genuine mobile workstation capable of replacing many desktop systems. Lenovo has combined premium build quality with professional-grade graphics, abundant memory, and one of Intel's fastest mobile processors to create a machine that excels under sustained heavy workloads.

In his glowing five-star review, our laptop expert Collin said it was: "crafted just for those who need reliable performance on the go, blending portability with 16-inches of screen, ports, and power all around arguably one of the best keyboards on the market."

He added: " It’s powerful, it’s portable, and it’s practically a workstation you can carry with you. It’s a magnificent step in the direction of those who unashamedly need raw power, but need to be on the go as well."

The 16-inch WQUXGA display delivers exceptional color accuracy with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, HDR 400 support, and 800 nits of brightness, ideal for creative professionals. Add Wi-Fi 7, enterprise-grade security features, and Lenovo's renowned ThinkPad durability, and this is a premium workstation at one of its best prices yet.

Based on our experience, we've ranked this the best laptop for engineering students overall, and an excellent professional pick for those running graphically intensive workloads.

Also consider

Price context & historical value

Saving $1278 on a current-generation mobile workstation is a fantastic deal, especially when configured with premium components like 64GB of RAM, RTX PRO Blackwell graphics, and a 2TB Gen5 SSD. This is the cheapest version of this configuration direct from Lenovo. You can check out all configurations at Lenovo by clicking here.

Systems in this class are never cheap, obviously, and discounts of this size don't appear often on Lenovo's newest workstation line-up, so this one not to be missed. Previously, the Core Ultra 7 model dropped to $4649 (was $7179), with the RTX PRO 3000 GPU, but it's currently out of stock from Lenovo.

For more savings on work machines, we track the best business laptop deals every week.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This workstation inevitably prioritizes performance over portability. At nearly 16 inches with high-end components inside, it's designed to replace a desktop rather than compete with ultralight laptops.

Battery life will also vary significantly under demanding workloads, particularly when making full use of the dedicated RTX PRO graphics.

• Shop all Lenovo ThinkPad laptops

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is exactly what you expect to see if a ThinkPad got Botox. This computer is a professional workstation with the familiar soul of a ThinkPad business laptop, just in a sleek, facelifted chassis.

Everything about the P14s is geared toward getting work done without compromising looks or quality-of-life features that have been overlooked in the past when other workhorse laptops hit the market.

It combines serious hardware with a compact design without sacrificing the physical qualities that make a work laptop enjoyable to use. Given the size, In my experience it's one of the best laptops for engineering students looking for a more portable powerhouse, or professionals working across multiple locations.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Price and availability

The P16s Gen 3 is available in a range of configurations, with both AMD and Intel chips. You can grab the AMD version and the Intel version from Lenovo US. That's the same for Lenovo UK with AMD models and Intel models.

I'm testing the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6, Model 21QT0029US to be exact. It has an Intel Core Ultra 7 265H processor, an Nvidia RTX Pro 500 Blackwell GPU with 6 GB of GDDR7 memory, 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. It also includes Windows 11 Pro and Intel vPro support, which fits Lenovo’s stellar reputation for business security and management.

This ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 has 32 GB RAM, while leaving the second slot unused. For this laptop, Lenovo supports up to 96 GB, giving the device room to grow for larger projects. There is also only one internal M.2 storage slot, though, so if you increase storage, you must replace the existing drive.

Our exact testing model and configuration can be found for about $2,700, but with Lenovo’s frequent promotions you can also find a similar P14s configuration closer to the mid-$2,000 range. That number makes more sense when the laptop is compared with other professional mobile workstations.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Unboxing and First Impressions

Physically, the ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is fantastic. Its aluminum top and bottom give the chassis a sturdy feel with very little flex or anything else that makes it seem fragile.

Lenovo also puts the system through MIL-STD-810H testing, which is a standard used by the DOD for drops/shocks, extreme temperatures/humidity, dust, and high altitude. So, TL;DR—this thing is solid.

Its construction feels quite fitting for a computer you’d expect to travel with, to and from work every day. The design itself is unmistakably ThinkPad as well. Which is a pro and a con depending on how unique you want to be in your laptop.

It features an all-black, professional-looking frame with subtle Lenovo branding and the familiar red TrackPoint on the keyboard. If you want to stand out and make it your own, slap a sticker on there, but if you want to look professional and crisp, then you'll fit right in with yet another ThinkPad that looks exactly like the rest.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Design & Build Quality

The keyboard is the undisputed favorite part of the laptop across our entire team. The shape and texture of the keys feel excellent, and each press is incredibly responsive, tactile, and honestly satisfying. Typing for long periods never makes my hand feel tired or makes me want to switch to a different keyboard for a break.

In fact, this whole article is typed on the P14s, that’s how much I enjoy its keyboard. I have several people who help me test laptops to ensure I am not just using my own personal bias in my reviews, and we all unanimously agree that the ThinkPad keyboards are spectacular, and the P14s Gen 6 is no exception.

The backlighting of the keyboard is also convenient, with brightness control using the Fn key and spacebar that offers a few different lighting/brightness options. The TrackPoint, along with its corresponding buttons, works as you’d expect too. With so many laptops moving to have this be software-driven, it is nice to see some business devices still have these elements built into key commands that have been around for quite some time.

The fingerprint reader is built into the power button, works quickly, and was much more dependable for us than facial recognition. The 5 MP infrared camera is acceptable for video calls, but we ran into issues when strong backlighting was present, mainly with facial recognition when trying to unlock the device.

The 14.5-inch display on this configuration has a 2560 × 1600 resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a rated brightness of 400 nits. It covers 100% of the sRGB color space and is X-Rite factory-calibrated. In person, the screen is beautiful: the text looks sharp, colors have plenty of vibrance, and the taller 16:10 aspect ratio gives you extra vertical space for any project, document, or webpage.

The 90 Hz refresh does a good enough job to keep up with pretty much all on-screen movement and keep it looking smooth. Of course, we wouldn't suggest video editing or photo editing even on this at a professional level, but that's not what this is designed for now, is it? I'm still shocked at how many people in the classic professional white-collar jobs are happy with standard HD screens.

Movies, TV, and other media look great, but its more important job is providing a clear, color-accurate workspace for professional applications, and it does that quite well, too. The screen itself has that silky, smooth feel that many modern displays have.

There are also two 2-watt speakers, which are surprisingly good for laptop speakers. Dolby Audio helps voices and other sounds come out clearly and gives music and video a fuller sound than I would have expected from a laptop.

Of course, they will not replace quality headphones or external desktop speakers, but they work well for calls, presentations, and, as I mentioned before, your movies and TV if you plan on using this laptop for fun things too.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: In use

During normal use, the P14S feels extremely fast. I was able to move between multiple programs, browser windows, and background tasks without experiencing any noticeable lag. It responds like a computer ready for real work rather than one suited for online shopping and the occasional email.

The RTX Pro 500 is a workstation-class GPU, and the P14s carries independent software vendor certifications for its intended professional applications. That matters when stability is more valuable than chasing gaming-level frame rates. It also shows that Lenovo knows its lane with this laptop.

They aren't making this for the gamers, generalists, or the budget-seekers. This has its niche in the professional category of needing to be able to handle demanding programs with speed but needing to break records in any way either. The reliability and stability are the game here, and Lenovo has it in spades.

There are reasonable limits. The GPU’s 6GB of memory may restrict extremely complicated renders, massive simulations, or demanding local AI projects - set expectations, though, and you'll get by.

The included 32GB may also become a ceiling for unusually large workloads, although the 96 GB upgrade limit provides potential to grow. For seriously demanding workloads, the ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 is still the king.

The laptop “can” run games, but gaming is simply not its purpose. Performance is good rather than great, maybe even just okay, and the RTX Pro hardware is better suited to professional engineering applications than maximizing frame rate for games. This kind of testing is helpful too, as it gives a glimpse into how this may perform for CAD renderings and other graphically-intensive scenarios.

While this could pull up some models, the more complex ones may take longer than desired, and this isn't the machine you'd want long-term if you live in that space -- or at least not as your only machine.

The cooling system for the P14s becomes noticeable during heavy work. Under sustained loads, the fan is medium-loud, with a somewhat turbine-like sound. Imagine a Dyson bladeless fan. It’s not crazy loud, but there is no mistaking when the laptop is working hard.

Our review unit has the larger 75Wh battery and a 100-watt USB-C charger. Under normal or light use, it lasted pretty much the entire day even at maximum brightness. This was a real-world observation rather than a controlled rundown, but it showed that the device can work away from an outlet without constant anxiety over battery life.

Heavy CAD rendering or other sustained CPU and GPU work will indeed drain the battery much faster, especially with higher screen brightness. That is to be expected from mobile workstation hardware. Lenovo rates Rapid Charge to restore up to 80% in about an hour, which makes it easier to recover a useful amount of battery life during a short break.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Final verdict

The ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 feels like another professional tool to choose from if you are in that arena of the professional workforce. Its solid construction, fantastic keyboard, sharp display, quality ports, upgradable memory, and consistent performance support the work it was designed to do.

When you consider the professional hardware, ISV certifications, display quality, and upgradable options, the price of this laptop honestly shifts from a negative to one of its strongest positives.

For professionals and students seeking serious power without moving to a larger or significantly more expensive workstation, this computer is a solid all-around option. They don't necessarily want the newest or the fanciest in the category, they want something they know they can rely on, because downtime isn't worth the cost of a fun feature they occasionally use.

For more powerhouse performers, we've tested the best business laptops and the best mobile workstations.

“It’s not red,” IBM’s design center manager patiently explained. “It’s magenta.”

The safety function officer wasn’t buying it. Between his fingers, he held up a small, rubbery disc that looked like a pencil eraser. “You know it’s red and I know it’s red,” he said.

The design manager didn’t back down. He insisted that what the man held was indeed magenta. The safety officer called his boss. The boss called Tom Hardy, Design Program Director at IBM. Hardy didn't flinch.

“It’s not red. It’s magenta.”

It was one of the boldest lies ever told in tech. And it made the ThinkPad iconic.

Years later, Hardy relayed the incident in an interview with Laptop Retrospective, detailing the design origins of the TrackPoint, the input stick resting in a central position of the ThinkPad keyboard since 1992.

Instantly recognizable today, the little red nub remains core to the ThinkPad’s identity. For anyone working in design, its history serves as a lesson on creative control and innovation.

Every designer knows red on black is a classic combination. So, for Hardy’s team, it was a no-brainer choice when first tasked with adding the TrackPoint to the system.

However, at the time, IBM instituted a strict color-code. For control systems like the TrackPoint, the standard was blue. Playing by the rules, the team toyed with that. According to Hardy, “it just didn’t sing like red did.”

They switched back to red. But there was a major problem with that.

Red was reserved for emergency power shutdowns. It’s the kill-switch color. Hardy knew, even then, the safety team had to approve the color scheme. There was no way they’d let it ship with a red cursor control. That simply wasn’t the way it was done.

Rather than fight and inevitably lose that battle, the designers got creative.

They scrapped every trace of ‘red’ in the documentation. They replaced it with ‘magenta’.

“The safety guys,” Hardy explained, “They may not know what magenta is, but they’ll know it’s not red.”

Soon, the parts came in, labeled as magenta. No-one looked twice at them until the safety official snooped on a box of TrackPoints and demanded to know who approved the color for non-power related functions. He didn’t get an answer he liked. He threatened to shut down the whole production line.

Hardy got involved shortly after. Corporate on corporate combat ensued, arguing over the subjective difference between magenta and red. “The next stop in the line,” Hardy reminded them, “It goes to the CEO.”

Fighting his corner, he tells them, will be famed industrial designer Richard Sapper who created the classic ThinkPad design, as well as corporate graphic design consultant Paul Rand, the man behind the IBM logo. Both are color experts.

Even as the back and forth continued, Hardy’s team had linked up with the advertising team. The ad agency had poured millions of dollars into a campaign that was ready to launch. “So hot,” the adverts said with a close-up on the new TrackPoint, “We had to make it red.”

It was enough to make the safety team think twice. Later that day, an email was sent. It said: ‘Make them red.’

They’ve been the same iconic color ever since.

It's no secret I'm a massive ThinkPad fan ever since I got my paws on a T431s, but check out the best business laptops my team and I have tested.

Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7x is down to $1,411.24 at Best Buy, saving you $423.37 from its usual $1,834.61 price.

This premium 14.5-inch Copilot+ laptop combines Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor with a sharp high-resolution touchscreen, alongside 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 512GB SSD. Its 14.5-inch IPS touchscreen offers a crisp 2944 x 1840 resolution, while Windows 11 Pro provides business-ready features.

Weighing just 2.9 pounds, it's designed to easily slip into a backpack.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x if...

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a solid choice if you want a lightweight premium notebook for office work, web browsing, video meetings, coding, and creative tasks. The high-resolution touchscreen, 16GB of memory, and Snapdragon X Elite processor make it well equipped for multitasking, while Windows 11 Pro adds extra flexibility for business tasks.

❌ Skip the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x if...

You may want to look elsewhere if you rely on software that still performs best on traditional x86 processors or need plenty of built-in storage. The integrated graphics are suited to everyday workloads rather than demanding gaming or professional 3D applications, and the 512GB SSD could fill up quickly if you work with large media files.

Why we recommend it

The Yoga Slim 7x balances performance, portability, and display quality in a slim premium chassis. The combination of a sharp 14.5-inch touchscreen, modern Snapdragon X Elite platform, 16GB of fast LPDDR5X memory, and a lightweight design makes it an attractive everyday laptop for anyone who spends long hours working away from a desk.

In his four and a half star review, our expert Isaiah said the Yoga Slim 7x was "a spectacular laptop built for AI using Qualcomm's Snapdragon Elite X CPU" and the OLED screen meant it was "one of the best-looking I've ever used". He was also impressed that the Slim 7x "truly can provide all-day battery life depending on your activity and screen brightness levels, keeping your charger stored away for a while."

Price Context & Historical Value

A saving of more than $420 makes this one of the more substantial discounts seen on a premium Copilot+ laptop with these specifications. Considering its premium display, Windows 11 Pro, and Snapdragon X Elite processor, the current price represents much better value than paying full retail.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This upgraded model is sold with a one-year warranty from Velztorm rather than Lenovo, and it doesn't include dedicated graphics or external display connectors. Those limitations are worth keeping in mind if your workload depends on high-end graphics performance or extensive wired connectivity.

It's also worth noting that there's a newer Gen 11 version of the Yoga Slim 7x with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. This model received a four star review from our expert Lewis.

• Shop all laptops at Best Buy

• Samsung announces new OLED panels for laptops, capable of '1,600 nits' in peak brightness
• The new tandem OLED panels have a 40% higher brightness requirement than older single-layer OLED panels
• The new panels will be used in MSI, Lenovo, Asus, and Dell laptops that have the latest DisplayHDR True Black 1400 certification

OLED panels are continuously improving year after year, as seen in recent tandem OLED displays from Samsung – and fortunately, the tech giant isn't resting on its laurels.

As reported by TweakTown, Samsung has introduced new tandem OLED panels for Lenovo, Asus, MSI, and Dell laptops, with claims of up to 1,600-nit peak brightness in small windows. This will apply to laptops that have the latest DisplayHDR True Black 1400 certification.

Notably, the push up to 1,400 nits certification is a '40% higher' brightness requirement compared to older single-layer OLED panels, which is ideal for bright rooms and environments.

This is thanks to the presence of tandem OLED panels, which work by stacking at least one or more OLED layers together, providing significantly increased brightness levels and efficiency.

Samsung notes it has started a 'full-scale' supply of the new tandem OLED panels for laptops, starting with the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition, and later for laptops from Asus, MSI, and Dell.

The boost to 1,600 nits is a significant enhancement for gaming and movie-watching experiences on these laptops. While the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura is certainly more of a premium laptop for creators, it's also capable of gaming using Nvidia's RTX 5000 series laptop GPUs.

With that in mind, issues with auto brightness limitations (ABL) that would often spoil bright gaming or movie scenarios should now be further diminished, as tandem OLED helps tackle those drawbacks.

Samsung hasn't mentioned any plans for its new panels being used for standalone OLED monitors just yet, but naturally, this should be the next step once these new laptops launch. For now, there are plenty of OLED gaming monitors (i.e., LG UltraGear OLED 27GX700A) capable of higher nits available on the market.

Getting set up for school or college can be an expensive endeavour. That's why we're always on the lookout for solid laptops that have been reduced in price, and that's exactly the case with this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 at Amazon for £499.99 (was £699.99).

This Windows 11 laptop features a bright 16-inch display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. That's enough power and storage to keep all your schoolwork moving along smoothly. Lenovo is a trusted brand, too, which is why it gets a special mention in our best laptops guide.

So, whether you're a student looking to get ready for the new academic year or a general user wanting a reliable laptop for everyday use, this £200 saving on an impressive overall laptop is well worth a look.

Today's best back-to-school laptop deal

Full disclosure: we've not reviewed the IdeaPad Slim 5, but our time with the similar Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 gives us confidence to make this recommendation. The Slim 5 promises seamless multitasking and performance with 13th Gen Intel Core processors.

From first impressions, the 16-inch display is a generous size, and the overall form factor is compact enough to make it portable. There's also a flexible selection of ports to expand connectivity and facilitate speedy data transfers.

One of the highlights of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is its 60WHr battery, which delivers all-day battery life, even when you're pushing it to the limits. And even when you run out of juice, Lenovo's Rapid Charge Boost technology will get you up and running again. In fact, just 15 minutes of fast charging gives you three hours of video playback.

Despite being on the other side of Prime Day, there are still some fantastic laptop deals around. We've put together our favourites, with top picks from the highest-rated brands as well as models featured in our best laptops guide.

• Lenovo introduces the first laptop using TCL CSOT’s inkjet OLED panel
• Inkjet printing could reduce OLED production costs for future consumer devices
• The Legion R9000P combines gaming performance with a sharper OLED display experience

Lenovo has launched the Legion R9000P as the world's first laptop featuring TCL CSOT's inkjet-printed OLED display technology.

The gaming laptop introduces a 16-inch IJP OLED panel designed to combine OLED image quality with a newer manufacturing process.

The launch marks the first commercial laptop use of TCL CSOT's display technology, which has been developed for more than a decade.

Legion R9000P brings a new OLED experience to laptops

The Legion R9000P uses a 240 Hz OLED display aimed at users who need smoother visuals during fast-moving gaming and entertainment content.

The panel covers more than 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, providing broad color reproduction for gaming, creative work, and multimedia consumption.

Lenovo says the display maintains consistent color performance across brightness levels, helping it serve different usage scenarios beyond gaming.

The screen also uses a Real RGB Stripe side-by-side subpixel arrangement, which addresses text clarity issues found on some traditional OLED layouts.

This design improves image sharpness by reducing color fringing and blurry text that can affect productivity tasks on OLED panels.

The display technology could make the Legion R9000P appealing beyond gaming users, including professionals seeking strong visual quality from portable computers.

This is a budget device that could pass for a business laptop with premium display features or even a student laptop with better visuals for demanding software.

Inkjet OLED could change future laptop displays

TCL CSOT's inkjet-printed OLED process differs from traditional vacuum thermal evaporation methods commonly used for OLED manufacturing.

The company uses inkjet printing to create organic light-emitting material layers, reducing reliance on expensive equipment and fine metal masks.

This simpler production approach could improve manufacturing efficiency and increase yields, potentially lowering costs as the technology matures.

TCL CSOT has worked on IJP OLED development for over 10 years, gradually expanding the technology toward commercial applications.

In November 2024, the company's 5.5-generation IJP OLED production line in Wuhan entered mass production and delivered its first product.

The company later announced construction of an 8.6-generation IJP OLED production line, marking another step toward larger-scale manufacturing.

TCL CSOT says the technology maintains OLED advantages such as high contrast and strong color performance while supporting broader applications.

Beyond laptops, the company expects inkjet-printed OLED panels could eventually reach monitors, televisions, and smartphones.

If production costs decrease, the technology could help bring higher-quality OLED displays to more affordable devices, including future budget laptop models.

I've uncovered a pretty cool way to save almost $400 off a ThinkPad by combining two separate promo codes.

Right now, you can get the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 AMD for $1,324.39 (was $1719) at Lenovo. The laptop is already discounted down to $1,471.55. But then, enter coupon code THINKWEEKEND, which saves you $77.45, and code LENOVO10DEAL to save an extra $147.16. That's almost $400 off one of our top-rated business laptops.

I don't know how long this loophole will last though, so use them while you can. Better still, you can run this coupon combo across a range of other laptops and desktops, too.

Today's top Lenovo ThinkPad deal

Business laptops can sometimes blur together, but Lenovo's ThinkPad range has always stood out for me, earning its reputation by focusing on reliability, security, and practical features that make everyday work easier.

Powered by AMD's Ryzen 5 PRO 230 processor, the ThinkPad T14 has more than enough performance for office work, web browsing, video meetings, spreadsheets, and multitasking.

You get 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD, as well as a fingerprint reader for fast sign-ins, a 5MP RGB and IR webcam, a physical privacy shutter, and Windows 11 Pro, making it well suited to business tasks.

The 14-inch WUXGA IPS display has a 1920 x 1200 resolution with an anti-glare finish and 400 nits of brightness, making it easier to work in bright offices or while traveling on a train or plane.

A backlit keyboard, integrated Radeon 760M graphics, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4 round out modern specifications that mean the laptop should continue to be perfectly fine for many years.

Although Lenovo markets the ThinkPad T14 primarily toward professionals and small businesses, it also makes plenty of sense for students and anyone wanting a durable, lightweight laptop that puts productivity ahead of flashy, but entirely unnecessary, extras.

If you need a dependable laptop that can handle almost anything you throw at it, these combined discounts make the ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 AMD an easy recommendation.

For more top-performers, see our guide to the best business laptop. And for more savings, see our round-up of the best business laptop deals around right now.

Also consider: More ThinkPad deals

• Shop all ThinkPads at Lenovo

Buying a new laptop can be tricky at times. As well as choosing the right brand and model, you also need to decide whether an Intel or AMD processor is the better fit for your needs.

Lenovo has reduced the price of its excellent ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 laptop. The AMD model has fallen to $1161 (was $1264), while the E16 Gen 3 Intel version is down to $1494 (was $1614). Use coupon code THINK2SAVEJULY for the best price.

You can build the config you need direct from the site, so the ones below have the specs I think deliver the best value for money.

Today's top Lenovo laptop deals

The AMD configuration offers the best value and pairs a Ryzen 5 230 processor (3.50 GHz up to 4.90 GHz) with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe Gen4 TLC Opal SSD. If you want a bit more power, you can switch to a Ryzen 7 250 chip (3.30 GHz up to 5.10 GHz) for an extra $30.

Anyone chasing maximum processor performance should opt for the Intel version instead. This comes with an Core Ultra 7 255H processor (E-cores up to 4.40 GHz P-cores up to 5.10 GHz) matched with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD, making it a very capable choice for demanding workloads.

I would suggest you view 16GB of RAM as the minimum amount of memory. Although 8GB is an option and will save you money, it's really not enough in 2026.

Both E16 Gen 3 laptops share the same feature set, including a 16-inch WUXGA IPS display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, anti-glare finish, 300 nits of brightness, and a comfortable 16:10 aspect ratio for working with documents and spreadsheets.

You'll also get integrated graphics, a 5MP webcam with a privacy shutter, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth support, and a full-sized keyboard with a number pad.

Those features suit working from home, studying, and everyday office tasks equally well.

Both models in Lenovo's understated Eclipse Black finish include a 48Wh battery, and ship with Windows 11 Home (you can switch from Home to Pro for an extra $40).

The familiar ThinkPad design continues to focus on durability, comfort, and practicality without unnecessary extras.

Choosing between Intel and AMD ultimately comes down to your personal preference, although it's nice to know that both ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 configurations are currently discounted right now.

For more top-performers, see our guides to the best ThinkPad laptops and the best laptops for engineering students

• Shop all ThinkPads at Lenovo

If you just need a reliable Windows laptop for everyday use, this Lenovo deal is a genuinely good price - it's an easy recommendation for remote and hybrid workers, and for my money, it ticks all the boxes for general business work.

So, right now, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i has dropped to £499 (was £599) at Argos. For an all-rounder business laptop, this one of the best budget picks around for under £500.

Inside, the machine is equipped with an efficient Intel Core i5 13420H processor and 16GB RAM, so essential office tasks, photo editing, browsing, and streaming won't be a problem - no slowdowns or sluggishness here.

Today's top Lenovo laptop deal

This is a budget-friendly configuration built around Intel's Core i5-13420H, an 8-core, 12-thread chip from the 13th-gen Raptor Lake-H family, with four performance cores boosting up to 4.6GHz and four efficiency cores.

The 15.3in WUXGA (1920x1200) IPS panel uses a 16:10 aspect ratio, which gives you a bit more vertical space for documents and browsing than the more common 16:9 laptops in this price range. It's rated at 300 nits with an anti-glare coating, with decent contrast and color accuracy (provided you calibrate it). That makes it ideal for creating images for, say, your work's social media pages, though I wouldn't recommend it for colour-critical tasks required by creative professionals.

16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is a sensible balance for this price point — enough headroom for normal multitasking across browser tabs, office apps, and streaming without feeling cramped. The laptop weighs 1.59kg and measures 17.9mm thick, with Lenovo quoting up to 14.5 hours of battery life, though real-world use — especially on the Intel variant — will likely fall short of that figure.

Connectivity is fairly standard for the budget class: two USB-A ports and one USB-C port, all capped at 5Gbps, plus HDMI 1.4 (so no native 4K60 output — you'll need the USB-C port's DisplayPort Alt Mode for that), a full-size SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth round out the wireless side.

Also consider

• See all laptop deals at Argos.

If you're looking for a dependable WFH or back-to-school system, you'll struggle to find anything better than the new laptop deal I've unearthed at Best Buy.

The popular retailer has slashed the price of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 to $655 (was $1000) on a well-rounded laptop for everyday computing.

It's powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 170 processor with eight cores and 16 threads that provides plenty of power for multitasking, productivity, streaming, and creative projects. Integrated AMD Radeon graphics handle everyday visual workloads comfortably, while Windows 11 Home includes Copilot for AI-assisted tasks.

Today's top Lenovo laptop deal

Lenovo pairs the processor with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 512GB SSD which will be enough storage for documents, photos, applications, and media.

The connectivity covers the essentials with two USB-A ports, a USB-C port with DisplayPort support, HDMI, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack.

Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth provide fast wireless connections whether you're working from home, on campus, or in the office.

The laptop features a 15.3-inch IPS touchscreen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and 300 nits of brightness. TUV certification helps reduce eye strain during longer sessions.

A privacy shutter lets you cover the 720p webcam when it's not in use, adding an extra layer of security.

Dolby Audio speakers, a Precision touchpad, a full-size keyboard with a numeric keypad, and battery life rated for up to 15 hours round out a feature set that will suit students and professionals alike.

The IdeaPad Slim 3 delivers plenty of everyday performance without blowing the budget, and will be an excellent choice for anyone replacing an aging laptop before the new school year begins.

For other options, look at our round-up of the best business laptops you can buy.

• Shop all Windows laptops at Best Buy

With a price hike and frequent stock issues, it's been harder to justify picking up the Steam Deck in recent months. But if you're still on the hunt for a handheld gaming PC, then there are some solid alternatives more readily available — and at much lower prices. That includes this Lenovo Legion Go S at Amazon for a record-low price of £404.10 (was £549.99).

• See more of today's best deals at Amazon

This exact same offer was available just a few months ago and it proved popular. With prices for PC components increasing and stock problems still lingering, I only expect that demand has increased since then.

That's why I think the Lenovo Legion Go S is a strong option right now. With an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, it's capable of running less demanding games, indies, and lots of modern favourites with ease. It also runs on SteamOS, which is designed specifically for the handheld form factor, making it easier and smoother to browse your library and play games compared to Windows 11 devices.

Today's best handheld gaming PC deal

I guess one of the only drawbacks to going for the Lenovo Legion Go S is the lack of an OLED display. Its eight-inch WUXGA display with a 120Hz refresh rate still offers smooth and vibrant visuals, though, all for around £250 less than the Steam Deck. I don't think it's worth paying that much more just for an OLED screen.

Yes, you may also have to make some compromises when playing the latest and most demanding games to get good performance, and battery life can be underwhelming, as with most handheld gaming PCs, but the Lenovo Legion Go S is a strong option right now as there are so few alternatives available at this price point.

We also rated it well in our Lenovo Legion Go S review, saying that it is "a compact beauty" and "a good choice for SteamOS diehards." Anyone with a large library of Steam games will find it a great device to play your favourite titles while on the sofa or on the go.

At this point in my professional career, I've tested many laptops and computers, and every single one tries to promote what makes it special. It's always the best at something, the lightest at something, the longest something, the brightest something, the most ports, or something like that. Whatever it is, there's always something that is trying to promote the best of the best at it.

The ThinkPad P16V Gen 3 is one of the unique ones that actually tries not to be the best of the best at anything, but to be a really good middle ground and an all-arounder, creating a Goldilocks-like scenario where it is not the best at anything. However, it's probably a really good option for most who want a portable workstation.

Lenovo has a pretty clear and sleek way of doing this. The ThinkPad P16S is a lightweight variant of this workstation. The P16 is a flagship, and the P16V is the value, or, as I'm referring to it, the Goldilocks version.

Yes, if you have the money, you should do the more expensive one - it remains one of the best laptops for engineering students I've ever tested. Yes, if you want the lightweight version, you should do the S version, but if you want the middle ground and you want to have your cake and eat it too, check out the V variant.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16V Gen 3: Price and availability

The ThinkPad P16V Gen 3 is widely available direct from Lenovo US, Lenovo UK, and other regional sites. You'll also find it from selected retailers.

The base configurations for this laptop start around $2,300, with an Intel Core i7 RTX Pro 5000, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD, all on Windows 11. The version I have is nearing $4,000 and has a Core i7 RTX Pro 2000 Blackwell with 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and a WUXGA IPS screen, running Windows 11.

If you're looking for an OLED touch panel, that adds to the price, and you can get up to 96GB of RAM, plus larger storage if you're looking for that as well. The higher you go, eventually it gets to the point where it may be worth just getting the more flagship model rather than the more value-oriented variant.

Depending on what is important to you, you'll want to spec these out on Lenovo's website.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16V Gen 3: Unboxing and First Impressions

This laptop has the classic, simple, identifiable ThinkPad black finish, a decent enough webcam with nothing crazy, a privacy switch, and a co-pilot key, which I'm seeing on pretty much every Windows PC these days.

Right away, boot-up was pretty straightforward. There are great ports, and this seems like just another one of those old reliable laptops that you would get as a business computer in the best way possible. It's nothing shiny; it's not gonna win any beauty awards, but by golly, will it get work done.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16V Gen 3: Design & Build Quality

Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 3 is only just over an inch thick and starts around 4.5 lb. It has thinner bezels and adds a USB-A port, which is funny compared to the Gen 2, showing that even in a world where we are pushing towards USB-C, people still really do need that USB-A port for quite a few legacy devices.

The ThinkPad P16v Gen 3 also has a MIL-STD 810H rating, a spill-resistant keyboard, a fingerprint reader that matches on-device (not on the server), a ThinkShutter, a Self-healing BIOS, and more.

On paper, these all look great, but in reality, what you need to know is that it is a spec bump plus the addition of a USB-A from the prior gen, which also rated quite well. Through every section that I keep writing about this review, I keep realizing more and more that this truly is just designed to be the Goldilocks computer for people in this kind of line of work

Lenovo ThinkPad P16V Gen 3: In use

I think this computer has been great today. Over the years, I've gotten used to using the TrackPoint and trackpad on Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, even during extended working and writing sessions. The Dolby Voice 5 field mic is strong enough for virtual meetings or, more relevant to some, works great with Wispr Flow and other dictation tools if that's your kind of jam.

It's great to know that this computer is strong enough to handle CAD files and other 3D project files, video editing if I wanted to, photo editing, and some engineering work. I used this to help build up some workflows in Notion, which took quite a bit of computing power running an expensive terminal — several windows in Notion, VS Code, Chrome, and ChatGPT open at once — and it handled the load like an absolute champ.

But as the continued threat of the jack-of-all-trades master-of-none kind of logic continues, the battery isn't the best on this. It's good. I would even say it's pretty good. It's not spectacular. It's heavy to carry around and can be awkward to fit in some backpacks unless they're larger. It's by no means the kind of laptop that you want to carry around if you're traveling a ton.

If you are in a technical, engineering, coding, tech support, or other similar kind of role and you need a mobile workstation but you don't need the flagship, and you're okay with having a little bit more heft to save some dollars, this laptop gets the job done in most scenarios.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16V Gen 3: Final verdict

As I mentioned slightly above, if you're a mobile technical specialist in some way, shape, or form (and trust me, if you are in this field, you know it), and if you want a workstation on the go, or if you had the Gen 2 and you really were missing that USB-A port and don't want to carry around a dongle, you should check this guy out.

If you really need that high-end GPU MPP, you should go with the flagship model. If you're looking for a lighter model, go down to the P16S Gen 4. The P16v Gen 3 is for those who want it all: a decently priced laptop with decent ports, a decent weight, a decent battery, and decent power.

For more powerhouse performers, we've tested the best business laptops and the best mobile workstations.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is well underway, with the group stages already generating huge amounts of action for fans across the world.

It’s been widely highlighted how this is the biggest edition of the tournament so far, with an expanded roster of 48 teams doing battle in 16 venues across three countries. But with such a sprawling reach, the technology needed to power such a crucial tournament has never been more important - and that’s where Lenovo comes in.

As FIFA’s official technology partner, Lenovo has provided the technical expertise to keep the tournament running, and power some of the most exciting new innovations such as AI Refcam - I went to find out more.

An unprecedented challenge

“We were given a challenge which is unprecedented for the game,” Ken Wong - EVP and President, SSG, Lenovo, tells me in Miami.

“For anyone that is going to be a single point of contact for such a complex project, there will be a lot of questions…but after two weeks of operations, I think we have delivered what we promised.”

Wong highlights how the technology being built and delivered to FIFA is actually Lenovo’s own in-house hybrid platform and delivery platforms, so the company was confident about the capabilities it could provide - and then, Wong says, hand it over to FIFA, “to make magic happen.”

As Wong notes, “keeping the lights on is a given”, and Lenovo has deployed more than 350 engineers to World Cup sites, including the stadiums and its Technology Command Center in Miami, with the company providing around 17,000 devices to ensure a resolute and powerful backbone for all the tournament’s operations.

The technology has (at least at the time of writing) been one of the biggest success stories of the World Cup 2026, with fans around the world praising the immersiveness of the Refcam and realistic VAR avatars.

“It's not only about technology - without outcome it is meaningless,” Wong notes, with the company looking to provide a fan experience “like never before”.

“Our role is to make sure based on our understanding of the technology in the platform - how we can maximize the flexibility and outcome for our customer? Now it's up to FIFA to use it.”

The "power of AI"

I ask Wong if the World Cup 2026 can be a good use case for responsible AI deployment, boosting everything from the fan experience to broadcast quality to more effective ground logistics and operations.

“Customers are often so focused on, do I have the most powerful model - but more and more, when AI is moving from POC to production and scale, the more people understand the importance of data,” he says.

Any complex operation that involves a massive amount of data can be a vital learning experience, Wong says - naming building or facilities operations all the way up to smart city oversight as possible use cases which can be extrapolated from the World Cup use case.

Lenovo has even established sports as one of its focus verticals, with the company also partnering with the likes of Formula 1, the Olympics, NHL, Serie A and more.

“We have confidence that we can provide a great outcome, for other organizations within the sports industry, be it a stadium or fans experience, or a whole federation,” he adds.

So with the tournament still underway at the time of writing, Lenovo might be hoping, paradoxically, that its technology stays out of the headlines for the time being - as that will mean everything is working smoothly, with no errors or controversies.

“We are the technology backbone of FIFA,” Wong notes, “our AI is powering the World Cup! To me, the real meaning is that we're part of the great game, but also it is proven now that Lenovo technology can be applied to the most complex operation in the world.”

EOFY is a good time to check gaming laptop deals, even if the laptop isn’t going to be used for work. Gaming laptops can be quite expensive, so a legitimate discount can make a bigger difference than it does on a basic everyday laptop.

That said, a gaming laptop can also be a powerful workstation if your work does need extra grunt. A fast CPU, dedicated GPU and plenty of RAM can help with video editing, 3D work, coding, running AI tools, creative apps or just keeping a lot of browser tabs and programs open at once.

It’s also worth checking our main EOFY laptop deals hub even after June 30, because in previous years we’ve seen some great laptop deals hang around or pop up in early July as retailers clear leftover stock.

For gaming laptops, we have deals from lower-cost RTX 5060 machines with generous RAM, through to much more expensive RTX 5090 desktop replacements.

The Acer Nitro V 16S is a good option for a buyer who wants current-gen gaming performance without paying big money. You still get an RTX 5060, 32GB RAM, a 1TB SSD and a 180Hz display for AU$1,777, which is a lot of hardware for the price.

The RTX 5060 is a lower-end current-gen GPU, but that’s still a good fit for 1080p or 1200p gaming, especially if you’re happy to use DLSS or turn down a few settings in the most demanding games. With RAM prices rising, 32GB of RAM is harder to take for granted at this price, so it’s good to see Acer include it rather than cutting back to 16GB.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is at the other end of the scale. Our Lenovo Legion Pro 7i review described it as “perfect for a desktop replacement, just okay as a portable”, and that’s exactly how I’d frame this deal.

You’re not buying it because it’s cheap or easy to carry everywhere. You’re buying it because you want a very powerful 16-inch gaming laptop with an RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, a 1TB SSD and a 240Hz OLED screen.

Our review gave the Legion Pro 7i 4 stars and called out its excellent gaming performance, gorgeous OLED screen and useful port selection. That makes it a good fit if you want one machine for demanding games, an external monitor setup and heavier work like editing, rendering or development.

The big caveat is battery life, which our review said “is not great”, but that’s the trade-off with this kind of desktop-replacement gaming laptop.

If neither of these gaming laptop deals is quite right, our main EOFY laptop deals hub has more options across cheaper Windows laptops, MacBooks, 2-in-1s and higher-end gaming machines.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 now well underway, the excitement is building as the tournament reaches its most crucial stages.

But this edition of the world's biggest sporting event is also notable for being the most technologically-friendly so far, with a raft of new AI-powered tools, services and broadcast innovations.

As the official technology partner of the World Cup and FIFA itself, Lenovo has been at the heart of much of this innovation, and the company invited me to Miami to see it all in action.

Behind the curtain

Now - a word of caution - sadly this article isn't going to delve too much into specifics, or include photos of all the amazing work the FIFA team is doing to keep this World Cup safe and running smoothly.

That's because the organization is understandably pretty focused on making sure the tournament (the biggest and most spread-out yet, with 48 teams competing at 16 stadiums across 3 countries) continues to do so, and for that reason we weren't allowed to take any video or photos during our visit - for obvious reasons.

However the Technology Command Center (TCC), situated in the sleepy Miami suburb of Coral Gables, is a dream come true for tech nerds like me - banks of screens showing detail on everything from network infrastructure strength to any possible cyberattacks to the live match feeds themselves.

We're visiting on a day when six matches are scheduled to take place - a huge strain on the FIFA networks, Nacho Fresco, Director of Technology at FIFA explains.

The TCC is able to monitor in real-time across the entire tournament's tech stack, which includes 30 proprietary apps, spotting any issues before they happen, and ensuring fans around the world continue to get access to the action.

Inside the TCC is a huge team of analysts, managers and other tech experts making sure all the services are functioning properly, with direct links to the wider FIFA organization along with remote teams at all 16 stadiums.

This includes Lenovo engineers, who are present at stadiums but also the central International Broadcast Center (IBC) in Dallas overseeing the global distribution of the action to the estimated six billion people watching across the globe.

We saw a screen showing the various connections between the 16 venues and the IBC, all including fallback options in case any issues should occur, making sure the broadcast continues.

In order to help boost this, Lenovo has deployed servers at the IBC to provide the power needed for the most expansive broadcast operation in FIFA World Cup history, with a total of over 17,000 Lenovo and Motorola devices  also deployed across venues and Team Base Camp training sites.

Under threat

Probably the most intriguing screen was the one showing cybersecurity threats targeting FIFA's systems and services at the World Cup.

In real-time, the team can see exactly how many attempts are being made to hack or disrupt the platforms, including the location of the criminals, and even what kind of bots are being used.

It's fascinating to see the sheer scale of attacks - Fresco says they currently face around a staggering 300-500 million cyberattacks a day, a number that seems crazy, but shows just how attractive a target FIFA is.

Fresco notes that attacks have been slowly ramping up over the last few months, and expects the total number to top that seen in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which saw around 11 billion attempted attacks.

I ask Fresco what would constitute success for FIFA when it comes to the technology stack at the tournament - is it making sure everything runs smoothly, or just keeping the lights on?

Unsurprisingly, he replies that delivering a great viewing experience for the fans is the priority, as the organization looks to continue with its Lenovo partnership and take it further in the future.

"It's a game changer," he says, "it's what we need for this tournament."

So - no pressure then. But as Fresco pointed out, the mere fact that all the talk around the tournament has been about the football itself, not any issues with the technology, is the best outcome FIFA and Lenovo can hope for.

• Lenovo has said that RAM prices will likely "never" fall back to pre-crisis levels
• The company also predicted a "new normal" for memory pricing from 2030 onwards
• Microsoft expects the cost of memory to double in just over a year

If you were hoping we might get to the weekend without any more bad news on the RAM front, that hope is about to be crushed courtesy of Lenovo and Microsoft — and there's a side serving of blame for Apple, too.

First off, as German tech site ComputerBase reports (via Wccftech), over at ISC 2026 — the high-performance computing, AI, and quantum conference in Germany — Lenovo said that RAM prices will likely "never" fall back to the pre-crisis levels of a year ago, even after the bolstering of chip production output that's coming (from 2028 onwards).

Lenovo seemingly said "never," accompanied by some on-stage laughter, according to ComputerBase, and the tech site (bearing in mind translation nuances) clarifies that this is really referring to the next five years (or maybe a bit more) for the RAM industry, and not an 'absolute' future.

However, the report then goes on to mention that Lenovo sees a "new normal" from 2030 onwards with significantly higher prices than pre-crisis levels — even given increased production.

On top of that, Microsoft just announced hefty price increases for Xbox consoles driven by the RAM crisis. The firm stated, "Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x, and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027."

Ouch. Microsoft underlined that the memory price hikes are especially painful for console makers, as these devices are typically sold at a (slight) loss, as the revenue is made up in game sales (and subscriptions).

Lastly, Wccftech also spotted that Micron has fired some flak at Apple, although the memory chip maker didn't name Tim Cook's firm specifically, but it's clear enough where the shot was aimed. As Rolfe Winkler, who reports for the Wall Street Journal, explains in a post on X: "Tim Cook says the memory guys are at fault for Apple raising prices. A Micron executive I interviewed last night pointed the finger right back."

Sumit Sadana, who is Chief Business Officer at Micron, informed Winkler, "We told a couple of the customers who were being very aggressive with pricing at that time that this is not constructive." The argument here might be that partners (presumably Apple) pressing Micron on the price of their RAM hurt Micron's bottom line and ability to invest in more production capacity.

Analysis: double, double toil and trouble

Although it's difficult to weigh up the exact meaning of Lenovo's comments on the RAM crisis at ISC, it's clear enough that the PC giant believes the future looks very rocky. At best, pricing looks like it's in trouble until the early 2030s, and there's likely to be a 'new normal' coming into play here for that next decade.

While there appears to be some joking around prices "never" coming back down to the levels they were before the crisis, I think there's a fair chance that they actually won't. When the cost of a product goes up to such an extent as we've seen with RAM (and storage), it's feasible that it won't ever quite normalize. Okay, so maybe we'll see some curveballs that throw things out of whack — like the AI bubble bursting, or at least deflating a good deal — but I'm increasingly doubtful about the prospect of any relief.

Microsoft predicting a further doubling of memory pricing in not much more than a year is a painful prediction to hear, too.

I'm not going to dive full-tilt into the gloom here, though, because as I've said before, at least in the consumer space, RAM prices can only go so high before a ceiling is hit, which means most people will simply refuse to pay the asking prices. And thankfully, there have also been a couple of glimmers of hope this week: Asus predicted that its products won't be hiked by as much in the second half of 2026 (but they'll still go up), and there was a rumor aired that memory chip giant SK Hynix may switch production away from AI-targeted RAM (HBM) to conventional RAM sticks, at least to an extent.

I wouldn't get swept away with any optimism just yet, though, because for now, as these latest developments in the memory crisis underline, the pervading sentiment around the future remains largely negative.

• Lenovo replaces traditional applications with thousands of downloadable AI functions
• Lenovo AI Host Mini ships with access to over 8000 skills
• Lenovo's proprietary marketplace sits at the centre of the experience

Lenovo has launched a mini PC which replaces much of the traditional software model with downloadable artificial intelligence functions from its own marketplace.

The company says users can access more than 8000 AI Skills instead of relying exclusively on conventional desktop applications and services.

Unlike conventional software stores operated by third parties, those AI functions are distributed through Lenovo's own proprietary marketplace integrated into the Tianxi Claw platform.

A computer built around downloadable AI functions

The AI Host mini can be configured by scanning a QR code with a smartphone before enabling additional functions through the Skills marketplace.

After completing the configuration process, users can deploy AI tools through the Skills system.

Lenovo says the platform arrives with more than 20 preinstalled Skills while allowing access to thousands of additional capabilities afterwards.

Those functions can connect with QQ, WeChat, and Feishu, allowing the system to interact with existing communication platforms and workflows.

This system feels more like an app store for AI services, although whether users prefer buying AI skills over traditional software remains uncertain.

Also, multiple Claw instances can operate simultaneously while supporting access from several users sharing one device.

Compact hardware powers Lenovo's experiment

The Lenovo AI Host Mini supports developer mode and ships with Ubuntu, although support for Windows appears uncertain at this stage.

Under the hood, the device uses the Cixin P1 CD8180, a 6nm Arm processor featuring a 12-core CPU designed for computing tasks.

Developed by China's Cixin Technology, the processor reportedly delivers performance comparable to several older high-end Intel mobile chips.

The chip also incorporates a 10-core GPU based on Arm's Immortalis G720 architecture for handling graphics and visual workloads.

Alongside the graphics hardware sits a dedicated NPU rated at 30 TOPS, contributing to Lenovo's claimed total of 45 TOPS.

Supporting those components are 8GB of LPDDR5 memory operating at 6000MT/s, together with a 256GB SSD for local storage.

Despite carrying dedicated artificial intelligence hardware, the system occupies just 0.48L of space within its compact enclosure.

The chassis measures 100 x 100 x 48.65 mm, weighs approximately 0.373 kg, and can fit easily onto crowded desks.

For connectivity, it includes two USB 3.2 ports, two USB-C ports, HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.4, and integrated 2.5GbE networking.

Lenovo has opened pre-orders in China at 2,999 RMB (about $444), but this device will remain limited to the Chinese market for now.

That said, whether users eventually prefer buying AI capabilities from proprietary marketplaces instead of installing conventional software remains to be seen.

Via Videocardz

No kidding, Currys is turning out to be a bit of a goldmine for cheap laptops for business and the back to school season. I went through all the deals to find 4 laptops that boast snappy processors and 16GB DDR5 RAM for smoothly tackling work in the office and at school.

My top all-rounder is the Asus Vivobook S16 for £599 (was £999). This lightweight OLED laptop with a 16-inch screen will effortlessly handle day-to-day tasks most professionals and students need. And it won't break the bank doing any of it.

I've been tracking all the best Prime Day home office deals this year. And while there are plenty of discount laptops on Amazon that absolutely aren't worth your time or money, I was pleasantly surprised to see some genuinely good price drops in the Currys summer sale.

One to avoid

Don't buy this Asus Zenbook A14 from Currys. Right now, the exact same model with double the storage is on sale at Amazon for £500 for Prime Day.

• Shop all computing deals at Currys

This HP laptop may be Amazon's best-selling Windows notebook just before Prime Day sales, but I truly cannot recommend it. The HP 250 G10 uses an Intel N100 processor, which is very poor value for money for a laptop that costs just under $500 (and that 37% discount claim seems very dubious).

Yes, it has 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a full HD display but that's simply not good enough to change my opinion of this laptop. (And yes, it uses a trick I despise to attract customers).

The N100 is so underpowered that it will struggle with even mundane tasks. Add the small 41Whr battery and you've got the perfect combination for hours of frustration and lost productivity.

So instead, here are five other laptops I'd personally recommend. For the same outlay (or less), they deliver far, far better value for money without the guaranteed irritation. Head over to our live hub for the latest Prime Day deals on a host of tech.

Quick links

• Shop $500 laptops at Amazon
• Check $500 laptops at Best Buy
• Buy $500 laptops at Walmart
• $500 laptops on sale at Newegg

Lenovo has trimmed the price of its powerful ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 mobile workstation to $3859 (was $4019) for engineering students and professionals who need desktop-class performance in a portable package.

While the saving isn't huge compared, say, to some laptop deals I'm seeing ahead of Prime Day, I think this is still a great opportunity to pick up a premium machine built for demanding creative and technical workloads. It shattered our benchmark tests, and remains our firm favorite for engineers. Oh, and thanks to the 4K display, it's also a great choice for streaming World Cup matches in your downtime.

This system is powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 255HX processor, paired with an Nvidia RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell Laptop GPU and 32GB of DDR5 memory. Combined with a fast 1TB PCIe Gen5 SSD, it has the performance needed for CAD, 3D mapping, engineering projects, video production and other intensive professional applications.

Today's top Lenovo mobile workstation deal

In his glowing 5-star review, our laptop expert Collin called it "A spectacular spectacle in the mobile workstation world" and added that it's "crafted just for those who need reliable performance on the go, blending portability with 16-inches of screen, ports, and power all around arguably one of the best keyboards on the market. It’s powerful, it’s portable, and it’s practically a workstation you can carry with you."

The 16-inch WQUXGA display is an undeniable highlight, offering a crisp 3840 x 2400 resolution, HDR 400 support, 100% DCI-P3 color coverage and brightness of up to 800 nits.

That makes it well suited to detailed design work, photo editing and color-critical creative tasks where accuracy matters.

For connectivity, you get Intel Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, providing fast wireless performance for modern offices and hybrid working environments.

A 5MP RGB and infrared camera with dual microphones, privacy shutter and computer vision support also helps deliver high-quality video conferencing.

Although this workstation is admittedly built for specialists, it remains a capable everyday laptop thanks to its quiet operation, premium build quality and excellent battery efficiency under heavy workloads.

Reviews also praise its ability to stay cool while handling demanding applications without slowing down.

Security features and a generous port selection make connecting external displays, storage devices and accessories simple, helping reduce the need for extra adapters while working in the office or on the move.

If your workload regularly pushes standard laptops to their limits, this Lenovo workstation offers serious performance backed by high-end components, an outstanding display and professional-grade graphics, all while saving you a solid $160 off its usual price.

For more top-performers, see our guide to the best laptops for engineering students (spoiler alert: the P16 gen 3 takes the top spot).

Also consider: More Lenovo P16 Gen 3 deals

• Shop all ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 Workstations at Lenovo

Lenovo continues to dominate the professional desktop marketplace. I see Lenovo everywhere in my day to day professional careers. They have a firm grasp on the market and a good reason for that is that they seem to keep putting out reliable heavy hitters release after release.

Sure there are others that are also killing it, but when it comes to the trust that those who have the power to purchase business bulk, Lenovo is pretty high up on that list for many.

The P3 Tiny Gen 2 is just another example of a fantastic offering for those who need just a basic PC for workstations, server access, front desks, and TVs. If you need a professional computer to run something, but nothing too big, then check out the P3 Tiny Gen 2. On paper, in no way is it the best mini PC we've tested on paper. But this workstation depends on a very clear set of business use-cases, so it may be the best for your scenario.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Price and availability

The Lenovo P3 Tiny Gen 2 is available direct from Lenovo's regional sites, including Lenovo US and Lenovo UK. The base price starts at $999 (and £2385 in the UK), with the highest end crossing $4000.

You can also buy it through third-party vendors like Amazon, Best Buy, and other reputable local retailers.

In true Lenovo fashion, you can choose your adventure here, opting for a more baseline model that's cheaper and easier for entry and easier for mass purchases. Or you can spec it out and get a more prominent and more powerful build-out. The choice is yours.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Unboxing and First Impressions

I've unboxed so many Lenovo desktops at this point that they all are blending together. However, this one is pretty straightforward and fairly consistent with all the others. Inside of the unassuming brown box is the computer itself, some brackets, a small power brick, and all the documentation that you need.

Right off the bat, this immediately looks like a pretty business professional desktop that could fit in pretty much any workspace. It could be on the desk of an executive. It can be on the desk of a front desk receptionist or it could be in a server rack, tucked away and never to be seen again. Lenovo has made this computer so versatile that it could even be mounted behind a TV, and you wouldn't feel like you're wasting any power since you can choose the internal components so easily.

It is worth noting that there is an inline power brick to the power cable, meaning that it's not just your outlet to IEC, like some monitors and desktops use these days, but there is a brick in line that converts the IEC jack to a smaller power plug. If you're planning on tucking this on a desk or underneath a monitor shelf, or tucking it away in a server rack, this may not be a big deal if there are easy spots to be able to tuck cables.

If you were mounting this or putting this behind a TV, or having this out in the open, it's worth noting that you're going to have to find a spot to be able to place that power brick, or mount it if you are mounting as well. Again, it's not the end of the world, but it is worth noting because power bricks can be frustrating at times to mount due to their heat generation, size, and weight.

The last thing I'll mention in this section is the ports. In true Lenovo fashion, these ports are exactly what business users need in their workspace today. There's a good span of USB, USB-A, DisplayPort, and network jacks. They are all in good positions to be able to be utilized as needed in an actual workday, not just in a pretty photo shoot or in a nice spec sheet. Some manufacturers care more about looks, but Lenovo very clearly cares more about usability and creating helpful experiences for their users.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Design & Build Quality

As briefly mentioned above, this desktop could easily stand upright on your desk, or it could become something that mounts underneath your desk, hiding away completely and staying completely out of the way. If you do choose to mount it, there are mounting options directly from Lenovo or an absurd number of third-party options as well.

It will allow you to mount this behind a monitor, under a desk, in a rack, or in other locations as well. If you do choose to have this on your desktop, Lenovo makes a nice little stand to help make sure that it stands upright, taking up even less footprint than before.

Throughout my testing in daily use, there were some moments when the fan kicked up louder than I expected. I really only noticed it when my office was otherwise silent. The fan isn't obnoxious by any means, but you do hear it if the environment is quiet enough.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: In use

In day-to-day use, it's pretty clear that the P3 Tiny, in name and in stature, is designed to be hidden away and take up as little space as possible. There was a season when you wanted a setup like this, you would use an all-in-one.

However, I believe Lenovo has understood that allowing business users specifically to be able to utilize whatever display they want with a smaller PC that can be hidden away is a better move long term, especially because if you needed to, you could run multi-monitor on a machine like this. By multi-monitor, of course I don't mean running two 55-inch 5K monitors, but more like two business displays utilizing the DisplayPort and the HDMI out.

I was able to run this on my 52-inch 6K monitor at high resolution without any issue, no lag, but I did hear the fan kick on when running on a smaller monitor at 4K or even 5K. I didn't hear the fan as much, and it still ran just as smoothly.

I will note that the proprietary power table is a tad annoying, but only really in the moment if you need to replace it, or if you are replacing a different computer with this computer, you'll need to run this proprietary cable instead of just an IEC cable. Further, the separation of the DisplayPort and HDMI, I thought, was worth noting. There's a USB-A in between those two ports, which is something I don't usually see. Usually, the DisplayPort and HDMI ports are right next to each other.

In base units, there are a bunch of punch-out ports available on the back of the machine. In the more build-out units, those punch-out ports, of course, become actual ports, which could vary between other VGA, DisplayPort, HDMI, or USB-C ports, more gigabit Ethernet ports, or even more USB-A ports if desired.

All around, this is a phenomenal device to be able to tuck away and hide or have out on your desk, taking up minimal space, especially in a simplistic business use case. Of course, I wouldn't use this probably for anything creative or on the go, but if you need a plug-it-in-and-let-it-work productivity machine, this could be it.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Final verdict

Lenovo continues the impressive nature of the P3 Tiny that we saw about a year ago. While I still wish that in 2026 there are a few more Thunderbolt ports, I do think for most business use cases this is a really good option, as there are still a lot of devices that use the now more legacy style USB-A port.

If you're looking for a small set-it-and-forget-it desktop machine for your employees or for your own office, this is definitely one worth considering.

For more productivity machines, we've tested the best business computers.

It’s not often two genuinely excellent OLED laptops land at the same price at the same time — but right now, Currys has exactly that. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition is £599 (was £899), and the Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is also £599 (was £999).

Both are Copilot+ PCs, both have Intel Core Ultra 5 processors and OLED displays, and both are solid everyday laptops. The question is which one suits you.

The short answer: if you want something slim, ultraportable, and built like a premium product — go Lenovo. If you want more screen, more storage, and better battery claims for the same money, go ASUS. Here’s the fuller picture.

Today's top laptop deals

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition

The Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition is Lenovo’s Copilot+ flagship in this price range, and at £300 off it’s a significant deal. The ‘Aura Edition’ designation matters here — it refers to Intel’s Aura certification, which guarantees the laptop meets specific standards for display quality, battery life, and AI performance beyond the basic Copilot+ bar. In practice, what that means is a machine that’s been tuned for the whole experience rather than just hitting a spec sheet target.

The 14-inch OLED panel covers 100% DCI-P3 — one of the most comprehensive colour gamut coverages you’ll find at this price — with DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and Eyesafe low blue light certification. For creative professionals who need colour accuracy, photographers editing on the go, or anyone who watches a lot of video, the difference between this display and a standard IPS panel is immediately visible.

The Core Ultra 5 226V is the efficiency-first chip in Intel’s Arrow Lake line — it’s not the raw performance leader, but it’s genuinely well-suited to the kind of sustained, all-day use this laptop is designed for. The result is up to 17.5 hours of rated battery life, and in real-world mixed use that should translate comfortably to a full working day. The quad-speaker setup with Smart Amplifier and Dolby Atmos is noticeably better than most laptops at this price too — actually pleasant to listen to without headphones.

The main trade-off is storage: 512GB SSD is adequate for most users but tighter than the Asus laptop's 1TB. If you store large video projects, photo libraries, or a lot of installed software locally, you may find yourself managing space more actively. External storage is the easy workaround, but it’s worth knowing going in.

Asus Vivobook S16

The Asus Vivobook S16 OLED makes a slightly different set of compromises. Where the Lenovo prioritises refinement and portability, the ASUS goes for space and performance. The 16-inch screen is genuinely more comfortable for extended work sessions, multitasking with multiple windows, or watching content — it’s the kind of size difference you actually feel every day.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H is a higher-performance H-series chip (versus the V-series in the Lenovo) — it has more cores and runs faster under sustained workloads, which shows up in video editing, compiling, and anything CPU-intensive. If your work pushes the processor hard, the ASUS has the edge here. The 1TB SSD at £599 is also notably generous — you’re getting twice the storage of the Lenovo at the same price.

The build quality and premium feel of the ASUS doesn’t quite match the Lenovo’s — at this price point, you can feel that the Yoga Slim 7 is a more carefully crafted machine. But if you’re buying for productivity and screen real estate rather than the feel of the product itself, the ASUS makes a compelling case.

Which laptop deal should you choose?

Go for the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition if: you carry your laptop everywhere, you want the most premium feel for the money, colour accuracy matters for creative work, or you prioritise all-day battery life. The £300 discount is also a more dramatic deal — this is a laptop that genuinely feels like it should cost more than £599.

Go for the ASUS Vivobook S16 OLED if: you spend most of your time at a desk, you want a bigger screen, you need more storage without buying an external drive, or your work is processor-intensive. The 1TB SSD and larger display are real everyday advantages at this price.

Either way, you’re getting an OLED screen and a Copilot+ PC for £599 — which would have been a very different conversation just a couple of years ago. Check out more options in our guide to the best business laptops.

• See all laptops at Currys

• AMD's David McAfee expects DDR5 RAM prices to 'recover slowly in the future'
• However, the exec added that DDR5 won't return to 'normal' pricing levels for some two years
• Meanwhile chatter from the rumor mill claims Lenovo is going to implement another sizeable round of price hikes with its PCs

An AMD exec has told us that DDR5 RAM pricing isn't likely to normalize until 2028, and in other news, fresh from the memory and wider component crisis, Lenovo seemingly has more price hikes in the works for its PCs.

Let's start with the AMD story. VideoCardz flagged up the interview that 4Gamers conducted at Computex 2026, in which the Taiwanese site spoke with David McAfee, who is VP and general manager of Ryzen CPU and Radeon Graphics.

When questioned on the memory shortage (bearing in mind translation issues with the article), McAfee said he expects prices to 'recover slowly in the future' but that DDR5 RAM won't return to normal pricing levels for about another two years.

VideoCardz also highlighted a post on X from leaker Harukaze5719, which in turn points to a report from Sina Finance in China that tells a separate tale of the Lenovo price hikes.

Obviously, this is just whispers from the rumor mill, but the theory is that Lenovo plans to jack up prices in China by the equivalent of $150 in July. This applies to its PCs and laptops, and, in fact, to every product line Lenovo sells, we're told (though common sense would indicate that cheap peripherals, like a basic Lenovo mouse, won't get a $150 price hike).

While this is a (rumored) move over in Asia, it would clearly make sense that mirroring cost increases in the same order (perhaps even a bit more) would be implemented in other regions.

Analysis: more urgency for laptop buyers?

The AMD exec has essentially thrown his lot in with the forecasters who see the RAM crisis ebbing away during 2028. While that still means it has a fair way to go, this is actually a relatively optimistic prediction compared to some more recent thoughts – notably from Nvidia's CEO. Jensen Huang said the memory crisis will last "quite a few years", suggesting that we may have to be patient until 2029 or 2030 to see the worst of this over. Others have guessed that we'll be sailing rough waters with RAM pricing until 2030, too.

The sad truth is that at this point, if I could have a guaranteed end-in-2028 outcome for these RAM woes (somehow), I'd take that prospect – and run. Of course, there's the question of what McAfee means exactly by returning to 'normal levels', complicated by the fact that this is a translated interview. Broadly speaking, I assume this means that prices will drop back down to more palatable levels relative to now – though I don't see them ever returning to pre-crisis levels, frankly.

It's a bleak old outlook, for sure, although there is some hope in Chinese memory chip makers tackling the RAM shortfall to some extent with increased production from these Asian giants. McAfee alludes to this when mentioning Changxin Memory in China increasing its DDR5 production capacity, but others – notably Huang – seem distinctly unswayed by such arguments.

A lot, of course, could rest on what happens with AI going forward. However, with predictions of increased memory demands one way or another in that sphere – and no remote indication of the AI 'bubble' bursting, or clever tech innovations helping out as much as some folks think they might – I'm not optimistic on the whole.

On top of this, the news from Lenovo is a further blow. If you recall, the computer giant already hiked PC prices earlier this year, and so this is another helping of RAM crisis-related cost rises for laptops and desktops (and other hardware besides, apparently).

As I've been discussing recently, after the Nvidia CEO's recent end-of-decade prediction for the extent of the memory crisis, now really does seem to be the right time to buy a laptop. The news that Lenovo may be about to pull the trigger on yet more substantial PC price rises only puts more urgency into that theory, because this surely won't happen in isolation among PC vendors.

• European/UK students use AI for organization, productivity rather than for cheating
• Lenovo reports students are using tablets more as they seek cheaper, portable options
• Universities might gradually be accepting AI more as students report more encouragement

Nearly all (98%) European students aged 18-25 now say that artificial intelligence helps them in some way, and new data from Lenovo reveals that despite the prejudices of other age groups, the youngsters might actually be using it for support, rather than to cheat.

Notetaking (73%), summarization (73%) and brainstorming (72%) offer near-identical use cases, with the tech largely seen as a support layer to help students stay organized, manage workloads and maintain focus.

Ultimately, the research concludes AI is becoming embedded into learning as a means of helping students process information more efficiently, rather than to bypass learning altogether, and it marks a major change in perception that could influence how universities and other institutions regulate the tech.

How are European and UK students using AI?

Among UK students specifically, 79% use AI note-taking tools, 79% use handwriting-to-text tools, 78% use AI summarization tools and 78% use idea generation tools, and all of them at least weekly.

In fact, British students are generally more positive than their European counterparts when it comes to AI’s role in generating ideas, helping them feel prepared, working more efficiently, feeling more in control and staying focused, Lenovo found.

Separately, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that 95% of UK students now use AI in some way, marking a major jump compared with 2024 (66%). Again, use cases span explaining difficult concepts (61%), summarizing academic sources (49%) and searching for information online (36%) – all administrative productivity aids and not education replacers.

With students capturing lecture notes, converting handwritten notes into documents and organizing information, Lenovo claims that AI’s biggest impact is actually on reducing administrative and organizational burdens.

These discoveries come at an important time in the evolution of education, with many universities, colleges and schools deeply considering how AI should be used and regulated. But Lenovo argues that creativity remains human-led and that fewer administrative tasks could actually be freeing up more student time to produce higher-quality work.

And HEPI found that universities are starting to adapt – or at least, in the UK. Now, around 36% of students feel their university encourages AI use, compared with 28% last year.

Students might be driving a surge in tablet sales – at least, for Lenovo

As for their preferred devices, Lenovo also asserts that tablets are becoming more mainstream. According to the data, 94% of students say a tablet is or would be useful across all aspects of student life. Beyond education, the report shows how students would consider a tablet over a TV if display and audio quality were comparable.

“For Gen Z, creativity can strike at any point in the day, so they need tablets that are intuitive and supportive, helping them stay in that creative flow for as long as possible,” Europe and META Chief Marketing Officer Alberto Spinelli added.

This trend could be influenced by ongoing supply chain strains and the recent introduction of more powerful AI PCs, pushing prices up across the board.

Lenovo accounted for around 8.2% of the tablet market during the first three months of 2026 (per Omdia) and saw a 20% increase in shipments year-over-year, but the firm’s analysts warn that the tablet market isn’t growing much at all. The market grew just 0.1% in Q1, compared with a 3.2% growth within the global PC market.

“With supply-chain pressures still building, Q1’s modest growth is likely to mark the high point for the year,” Principal Analyst Ben Yeh warned, implying that consumers could be targeting cheaper devices (including potentially tablets) or delaying upgrades altogether.

I don't know about you, but any time I spend on LinkedIn, I am then immediately drowned by AI talk by those who are replacing entire companies with AI and how quickly people can build AI. All of that building requires a device that has insane power, or, to quote Aladdin, "ultimate cosmic power." That is what it seems like we are reaching for these days with the amount of computing power we are demanding from our devices.

Depending on what you are doing, having a dedicated LLM device could be the thing that makes or breaks your profit margins or also helps you actually get work done without burning through all of your tokens in one week. The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is designed to run an LLM locally on a machine so that you can test anything that you need to test in an AI workspace without having to run it through the cloud. This will allow for things like script testing, feature testing, model testing, etc.

Further, this is also the kind of machine that you could use as an always-on device that would be fantastic for OpenClaw or Claudbot. As I mentioned briefly above, many people rely on the Mac mini for this.

However, if you're already in the professional work space or if you prefer Windows or if you trust Lenovo already, or alternatively maybe you don't need a full desktop as well, this is a phenomenal option for those workloads, and it likely destined for inclusion in our best mini PC guide for those that need a dedicated compact AI-ready workstation.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Price and availability

The ThinkStation PGX is available across Lenovo's regional websites, including in the US where prices start at $5,079 and in the UK, priced from £5,200.

The base model comes with 1 TB storage. However, if you want to upgrade to other storage components or buy through other retailers, the price may vary. My quick research has shown that the price of this unit can easily vary between $4,800 and $5,400 depending on your configuration.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Unboxing and First Impressions

The PGX makes a strong case for those who want an mini AI Workstation. There are so many people in that realm of work these days that having dedicated devices that specialize in extracting every ounce of power from components to support power-hungry software is a good thing. However, it’s not for everyone. While there is a basic desktop, it feels more like a NAS rendering than that of a true computer.

The ThinkStation PGX appears to be similar in size to a standard mini PC; for continued comparison and reference, it’s about the size of a Mac mini. All the ports are on the back; since this isn’t meant to be a desktop replacement in any way, there is no need for any ports for the user to interact with after setup.

If you are the type of person who has to ensure the reliability and dependability of AI-powered machines, such as ensuring drivers are up to date, then having a dedicated machine may be just what you need to stay sane.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Design & Build Quality

The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is fairly compact, and it’s short enough to fit under desk shelves if you want it to stay on your desk, or tuck it away in a media closet or office space. Good flexibility here for that.

No matter where you choose to put it, the result is pretty much the same. It’s not meant to be looked at, bothered with, flash with colors and lights, nor really even be bothered with once it is set up.

Design-wise, as I say, this feels minimalist and styled to look sleek and professional wherever it is used. There are no forward-facing ports, but that is of course due to the intended use case. On the back there are USB-C ports, no USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a network port, and then two expansion ports that will allow for two of these units to link together to distribute the workload you’ve created across multiple PGX’s.

Beyond the ability to link multiple together, the expandability and customization kind of stops there, so if you are the type of person who is currently using a custom tower setup for their LLMs, then this is going to feel a bit too controlled. If you are okay with the change-up from the Wild West of computer parts to something that is a bit more controlled, you will swap customization for reliability.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: In use

The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is best when used as a dedicated device for running tasks against your local LLM. The 128GB memory and the Grace Blackwell GB10 help make even complex scenarios feel snappy, much more than most people’s laptops can; that’s for sure. For those in this space, the struggle of maxing out your available GPU is a known constraint. But now with your own personal device, you won’t have to wait on anyone else or book time, or anything else of the sort.

In my experience with AI tooling, speed is a major factor. Trying to ship features with AI usually comes with the expectation of speed. Now, with your own tooling and hardware, you can get prototypes, demos, and research done without waiting.

Off the top of my head, the tools that would benefit from this the most would be things such as: running local inference on larger models, prototyping across several different models, perhaps different versions of an app, a tool, or a workflow, even other ways of teaching or tooling that require quick turnaround time to try things out and you don't want to waste time or credits.

One thing worth noting is that while this does have a ton of operational memory, storing this kind of information to run these large models will take up a lot of space. If you need more than the allotted storage, or if you don't want to pay for internal storage, you can add external storage options to host the datasets you will be using for this.

In short, utilizing something like this as a service-kind-of-model, where you tunnel in and do what you need to do and keep your day-to-day machine light, means that you could run around with a more lightweight laptop or a more practical day-to-day laptop and then utilize this machine when you need it instead of carrying this beefy machine all day long every day. That may not be the best for everything else that you do in your day-to-day work.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Final verdict

The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is an incredibly powerful machine; however, it is probably not the machine for you unless you are in a very niche workspace. For those that this applies to, this is a fantastic tool to add to your arsenal, with more specialized capabilities and easier setup than a Mac mini. It is also more limiting than a Mac mini in some other ways.

You shouldn't buy this if you want a small desktop that can do some powerful things. If you do need a machine dedicated to running LLMs or open claw, then absolutely you should consider the Lenovo ThinkStation PGX, because in that world, this thing is a king.

For more pro-grade desktops and workstations, we've tested the best business computers.

It's increasingly difficult to find great value gaming laptops in recent times due to the ongoing RAM price crisis. If you know where to look, however, there are still a few diamonds here and there.

One highlight I've just spotted is this Lenovo Legion Pro 7i for $2,549 (was $3,499) at B&H Photo. This retailer has really surprised me with excellent deals recently, and this particular listing might just be the best yet — if you have deep pockets.

While pricey, the $950 discount offsets the blow significantly, and you get not just an excellent RTX 5080 graphics card, but also an Ultra 9 chipset, 32GB of RAM, and a 240Hz OLED display. In short, this machine is ready to go right out of the box, and should last you a few good years down the line, too.

If I were looking for a higher-end gaming laptop, this would definitely be on my shopping list this week. You can check out our Lenovo Legion Pro 7i review for a full rundown of this particular model.

Today's best RTX 5080 gaming laptop deal

• See more: check out all of today's gaming laptops at B&H

Is it worth waiting for Prime Day now?

For those not in the know, Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner. The annual mega-sale is set to take place from June 23 - 26 later this month, and it usually has excellent discounts that rival those from Black Friday.

I usually recommend that readers hold out until the big sale for most tech purchases, but I think you're pretty safe with this particular listing at B&H Photo. As someone who covers gaming laptop deals all year round, I find Amazon to be one of the least consistent retailers out there for gaming laptops. There are usually discounts for Prime Day, but I've found Best Buy, Walmart, and Dell to have much better options in their rival sales.

Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 3 is a modern, capable laptop for students and professionals and this machine is currently discounted to $550 (was $900) at Best Buy.

That’s a massive $350 saving on a 15.3-inch touchscreen laptop with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD. The Ryzen 7 170 processor packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with boost speeds up to 4.75GHz, giving the system plenty of muscle for multitasking.

At this price, you’re getting hardware that’s well suited to everyday productivity, hybrid working, web browsing, streaming, and creative tasks. And with these specs, it's one I heartily recommend.

Today's top Lenovo laptop deal

The Ryzen 7 170 processor packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with boost speeds up to 4.75GHz, giving the system plenty of muscle for multitasking.

The 15.3-inch touchscreen display has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and the taller 16:10 aspect ratio provides extra room for documents, spreadsheets, and websites.

IPS technology keeps viewing angles wide, and Lenovo includes TÜV-certified eye comfort features for longer work sessions.

Pairing 16GB of DDR5 memory with a 512GB SSD keeps Windows 11 ticking along nicely during daily use.

Lenovo rates the battery for up to 15 hours, and the 60Wh battery supports rapid charging when it’s time to top up. For anyone regularly moving between home, school, and the office, that extra endurance will be a welcome bonus.

The laptop also includes practical features that are becoming harder to find at this price. As well as the touchscreen, there's Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, a full-size numeric keypad, an SD card reader, Dolby Audio speakers, and a physical privacy shutter for the webcam.

If you need a capable everyday laptop without spending close to four figures, the IdeaPad Slim 3 is a terrific choice.

For other options, look at our round-up of the best business laptops you can buy.

• Shop all Windows laptops at Best Buy

The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen2 is an incredible touch-capable portable display for business travel or as a second screen on your desk. So, when I saw it on sale, I knew our readers would want to take a look at this one.

This sleek, premium, all-black display is discounted in both the US and UK, with ThinkVision M14t Gen2 dropping to $269 (was $459) at Lenovo. And in Britain, the 14-inch ThinkVision is down to £240 (was £400).

If you're a creative or business professional, there's a lot to like about this portable monitor. For one thing, it features touchscreen capabilities, making it ideal for creatives. On top of that, it boasts a very high 2.2K resolution But what I really like is the built-in stand with two USB ports - when we tested it out, we found it offered excellent stability. Perfect when working on the go.

Today's best portable monitor deal

When we tested the Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen2 (see our review), we were big fans of the enhanced image quality over its frankly disappointing Gen 1 predecessor, calling it "a significant upgrade."

I'm especially a fan of the 16:10 screen ratio, which offers more space to view your apps, and text looked crisp and clean on-screen across all the programs we used, such as Chrome and Slack.

We performed a series of productivity and day-to-day tasks, like signing documents with the bundled stylus - which feels smooth responsive.

Beyond that, where it stands out is as a second monitor for creative professionals running the Adobe suite, where the ThinkVision's 100% sRGB color accuracy made it ideal. That color coverage means it won't replace your main monitor, but we had no trouble editing photos and videos and getting the results we wanted.

One last feature that left us impressed: automatic orientation. Operating like a tablet or smartphone, this works flawlessly for quickly switching between portrait and landscape models.

All in all, it's an excellent business display that goes well beyond the usual cheap portable monitors out there.

For more top picks, my team and I tested the best business monitors and the best portable monitors (and yes, I've featured the ThinkVision M14t Gen2 in both guides).

Also consider

• In the UK? The Dell Pro 14 Plus is £229.20 at Dell

• US: Save on monitors, laptops, desktops in Lenovo's Doorbuster deals
• UK: Save on hardware in the Lenovo sale

I'm a self-confessed ThinkPad fan - and have been since I first booted up my ancient T431s all those years ago. I mean, I have three in my house as we speak (all T14s models, if you're curious). So, I was pleased to see latest ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is down to $1224 (was $1359) direct from Lenovo.

• Shop all Lenovo ThinkPad deals

In my experience, ThinkPads some of the best business laptops around - durable, professional, and with the best typing experience you can get without hooking up an external keyboard. And at 14-inches, the T14s is the perfect size for professionals who need a laptop for the office or home office.

It's not the only 14-inch laptop deal Lenovo has on right now, either. I've scoured the entire site and found everything from the ultralight Carbon X1 that's built for business travel to the high-performance P14s mobile workstation for those that need a truly portable powerhouse. Check them out below.

Today's best Lenovo ThinkPad deals

Also consider: More Lenovo laptop deals

• Shop all laptop deals at Lenovo

As a veteran deal-hunter, I can honestly say Best Buy has had an incredible Memorial Day sale event this year - and what particularly stood out to me were a host of RTX 50-series laptops and desktop PCs that are perfect for video editing.

• See all laptop & PC deals at Best Buy

I've gone through the entire stock to find the best video editing laptop and PC deals and picked out my favorites - basically, all the ones with fast DDR5 RAM and discrete RTX 5060, 5070, and 5080 graphics card. That includes the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 for $1425 (was $1775) and the ever-impressive Asus ROG Strix G18 for $2800 (was $3300.

If you're a content creator, you'll need to act fast though - Best Buy's Memorial Day sale ends tonight (the clock is quite literally ticking on the page).

Top Memorial Day video editing laptop deals

Top Memorial Day video editing PC deals

More of today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Best Buy: Big tech deals on laptops, office furniture, and more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills, rugs & more

With the Amazon Memorial Day sale now underway, I've been browsing through the top business laptop deals available (what else would TechRadar Pro's hardware editor do, after all?). These are the ones I recommend under $600.

• Shop Amazon's full Memorial Day sale

Now, I'm seeing a lot of laptops older, slower Intel N-series processors and miniscule amounts of RAM. I recommend swerving those if you have any interest in staying productive. Instead, I've selected the 4 best business laptop deals in Amazon's sale right now.

Dell, HP, and Lenovo are all offering deep discounts on these office-focused machines. And while they're not top-spec, for the price I don't think you can go wrong with these ones - they all have 12 to 16GB of memory and newer (or at least not ancient) CPUs that will breeze through office software productivity tasks.

Top Memorial Day business laptop deals

More of today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Best Buy: Big tech deals on laptops, office furniture, and more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills, rugs & more

• Discord has released a major update for Linux users
• Game and screen sharing has been improved with hardware-accelerated video encoding now supported via Nvidia, AMD, and Intel GPUs
• It comes as users remain frustrated about global age verification plans

Discord on Linux, particularly on the Steam Deck or SteamOS handhelds, has been plagued by functionality issues, and a new update has finally addressed them — but users aren't buying it.

As reported by TweakTown, Discord announced a new major update for Linux in a video titled the 'year of the Linux desktop', providing significant improvements to game (or screen) capturing capabilities, including smaller updates to notifications and game detection.

Notably, hardware-accelerated video encoding is now supported on Nvidia, AMD, and Intel GPUs for Discord, for better video quality without a drawback on game performance.

Discord will also capture games using Vulkan or Valve's Gamescope, and that's great news for devices like the Steam Deck or the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS, as more system resources can be used on games, ultimately improving performance and battery life while streaming to friends.

That's all good and well in the eyes of Discord users on Linux, and it has even joined in on the year of the Linux desktop meme (essentially the hope that Linux will surpass Windows) — and sure, this update has definitely taken it a step closer to that, but it's not enough to win fans over.

Instead, the comments on the video are consistent with users stating it's the 'year of age verification', criticizing Discord for its global age verification plans, which are still slated for late 2026.

This major Linux update comes around the same time as the Discord and Xbox collaboration, which gives Nitro users access to a starter edition of Xbox Game Pass. It seems as though Discord is trying its best to soften the blow from its controversial move, but it's quite clear that users aren't willing to let the age verification issues go.

• Lenovo launches 100W compact power bank with 10000mAh capacity
• Lenovo Legion P5 10000 supports phones, laptops, and tablets through multiple charging ports simultaneously
• Low current mode supports earbuds and wearables for safe charging

Lenovo has announced a new Legion-branded power bank with a 10,000 mAh capacity - however many fans might be disappointed they won't get their hands on one.

The company says the P5 10000 can provide long-lasting battery life for smartphones, computers, tablets, and other gadgets that people use every day.

The power bank supports up to 100W high power output with smart dynamic power distribution for flexible charging and discharging.

Built for high and low current devices

The power bank includes a built-in Type-C cable alongside one USB-C port and one USB-A connection for external accessories.

A small circular display appears on the front panel, though Lenovo has not explained every function supported by the screen.

The device features a cool mech-style exterior with compact and lightweight construction for easy carrying during travel or commuting.

The device can charge PCs and handheld gaming consoles as a one-device solution for worry-free battery life, but we will not recommend it.

Considering the battery capacity, the device is more suited for low-power devices such as smartwatches and earbuds with its low-current charging support feature.

Users only have to press and hold the power button for 3 seconds to activate the low current mode.

In addition to Lenovo’s fast charging protocol, this device also supports fast charging protocols from Huawei and Apple.

The Legion P5 10000 holds a 3C certification, which means it is supposedly safe to take on airplanes and trains.

But there is no product page available to confirm any of these technical details for public review.

Availability, pricing, and alternatives

The Lenovo P5 10000 portable power station will officially hit the shelves on May 19, and it will retail for CNY 169, which is approximately $25 or €21.

At the time of writing, this device has been listed on JD.com, a Chinese online retail platform.

Unfortunately, there is no information on the global release of this device, so you probably cannot buy it unless you have links to China.

If you live in the Western world and need a Lenovo power bank, you can get the Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank, but this device costs $140.

It is a 20,000 mAh power bank that supports up to 65W fast charging, making it more suitable for big battery devices like laptops and handheld gaming consoles.

This device can also power up to three devices simultaneously while staying cool under load.

While it is pricier than the P5 10000, it gives more capacity and thus more options.

Via Notebookcheck

I wrote about a deal on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally a few weeks ago and suggested it as a solid alternative to the Steam Deck while it was suffering with stock issues. Almost a month later, and the situation hasn't improved for Valve's popular handheld — but now there's another deal on a handheld gaming PC worth considering if you don't want to wait any longer for a restock at Valve. It's the Lenovo Legion Go S at Amazon for £404.10 (was £549.99).

What makes the Lenovo Legion Go S such a compelling alternative to the Steam Deck is the fact that it runs on the same SteamOS as Valve's handheld. Having used it on my own Deck, it's just better designed for that form factor compared to Windows 11 machines, making it smoother and easier to browse and play your library of games.

The specs on the Legion Go S are solid, too. With an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, you can comfortably run less demanding titles, indie games, and many modern classics. Sadly, it doesn't feature an OLED screen, but you do get an eight-inch WUXGA display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth, vibrant visuals.

Today's best handheld gaming PC deal

I said last time that, when it comes to a Steam Deck alternative, there are very few options with similar capabilities in its price range. I called out the Lenovo Legion Go S as a potential, but only when it's on sale. Well, if you are tired of waiting for a Steam Deck restock, here's your other option.

We thought it was an excellent option for anyone with a large Steam library in our Lenovo Legion Go S review. "A compact beauty that can play most of the games in your Steam library," is how we summarised it. Of course, some compromises have to be made for the latest and most demanding games, and battery life isn't the best, but this is still a great handheld for the price.

I've found a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini i5 desktop, which is now £449 at Argos. Argos says it has never sold the machine for less than £599 before, making this its lowest ever price — a claim I confirmed via the Wayback Machine.

Mini PCs are brilliant for saving desk space while still giving you the speed and flexibility of a proper desktop. And this petite powerhouse runs on an Intel Core 5 210H processor with eight cores and speeds reaching up to 4.8GHz, giving it the performance needed for office work, streaming, multitasking, and everyday computing.

Integrated Intel graphics handle everyday visuals, streaming video, and productivity software.

Today's top mini PC deal

You get 16GB of DDR5 RAM, which is exactly what most people would expected to see in a compact desktop at this price point.

It's enough to help keep things running smoothly when juggling multiple programs at once or switching between browser tabs, documents, and media.

You get a 512GB SSD, giving you room for Windows 11 Home, installed software, and personal files without running out of space too quickly. SSD storage also keeps boot times short and helps programs open faster during daily use.

Networking includes Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5G LAN support, giving you fast wireless and wired connections for downloads, streaming, and video calls across busy home networks.

It comes with one USB 2.0 port, three USB 3.2 ports, four USB Type-A ports, and two USB Type-C ports for connecting accessories and external drives.

You also get HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort, Bluetooth, and a headphone jack.

The compact 1L case measures 4.27cm tall, 19.1cm wide, and 19.5cm deep, while weighing 1.8kg, making it easy to fit into tight workspaces.

Quiet, cool operation keeps noise low even under heavier workloads, making it suitable for long work sessions or evening streaming.

For more choices, look at our round-up of the best mini PCs you can buy now.

• Shop all desktop PCs at Argos

If you're looking for a laptop that's good for creative work, studying, and heavy multitasking, the IdeaPad Slim 3 will suit your needs perfectly. I've found a great deal on it at Argos, where it is at its lowest price ever.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is currently £569 at Argos. And while it doesn't say how much you're saving, a quick trip into the Wayback Machine shows it was selling for £799 in November 2025 before being discounted to £679 in January this year.

The laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor with eight cores and boost speeds reaching up to 4.75GHz, promising plenty of speed for demanding software, large documents, and multitasking across several programs. Integrated Radeon 680M graphics handle streaming, editing tasks, and everyday visuals.

Today's top Lenovo laptop deal

Laptops around this price usually come with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, or — horror! — just 8GB, but this model gives you 24GB of DDR5, which you'll really notice when multitasking or working on meatier projects.

For storage, you get a sizeable 1TB SSD, which means loads of room for files, creative projects, and everyday storage.

The 15.3-inch WUXGA display offers a 1920 x 1200 resolution with a taller 16:10 layout, giving you extra space for documents and creative work. IPS panel technology keeps colours consistent from different angles, while TÜV certification helps reduce eye strain during longer sessions.

Battery life is rated for up to 15 hours, making this laptop practical for long days away from a charger at work, school, or while travelling.

Rapid Charge support provides about two hours of use from just 15 minutes plugged in, while USB-C PD fast charging supports up to 65W using compatible adapters.

Connectivity includes USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an SD card slot for transferring files from cameras and other devices.

Carrying it around won't feel like a chore thanks to a light weight of just 1.59kg. A 180-degree hinge also makes it easier to adjust viewing angles or share content across a desk or table.

Built-in Dolby audio and an integrated microphone also make it well suited for video calls, streaming, and everyday entertainment.

At £569, this is one of the best deals I’ve found on a Ryzen 7 laptop with 24GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, especially when you consider it cost £799 just a few months ago.

If you've been waiting to upgrade to a capable laptop without paying high-end prices, you won't want to miss this.

For more choices, look at our round-up of the best business laptops you can buy, and also the best laptops for photo editing and video work.

• Shop all laptops at Argos

The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 is a spectacular compact powerhouse of a PC.

Specs-wise, it packs in an Intel Core Ultra 9, an Nvidia RTX 4000 SFF ADA Generation GPU with 20GB, 64GB RAM, up to 4TB SSD, a wide range of ports, and a massive 330W power supply.

For my testing model, I have an Intel Core 9 285, the Nvidia RTX 4000 SFF ADA Generation GPU with 20GB, 2x 32GB of DDR5, and a 1TB SSD. It’s definitely not the most built-out, but it absolutely gets the job done.

The one key thing that is hard about all this power crammed into a small space, though, is that the fans to keep everything cool are insanely loud under load.

When it comes to complex professional workloads, it's one of the best mini PCs around - although it's incredibly expensive and the fan noise under load are loud.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: Price and availability

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 is available direct from Lenovo US, Lenovo UK, and a broad range of online retailers.

It comes in a range of configurations, with the base model costing $1,399, but once you upgrade it, you can easily exceed $4,000.

Keep in mind, you could get similar hardware in a standard desktop tower, but you’re paying more for the compact space-saving footprint of this chassis.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 includes everything you’ll need to get up and running, except the display. Lenovo even sends a basic keyboard and mouse in the box, if you’re in desperate need — though I’d strongly suggest picking up a better one.

I chose not to hook up the antennae as I was going with a wired connection, and I didn’t need the keyboard and mouse that came with the computer since I have plenty lying around.

During boot-up, while benchmarking, and while running heavy programs, the fans on this computer whirred to an impressive decibel level, though it still handled quite a bit of power.

Setup was fairly easy outside of that, just plug in, get your mouse and keyboard set up, and then log in. As an IT Pro, you could get this done in minutes, prepping it to help your team.

Lenovo has done a phenomenal job of incorporating spectacular ports on the front and back of this machine, designed for real power and real use.

Yes, there isn’t Thunderbolt, but there are two 20Gbps USB-C ports that can still be great for transferring files, just maybe not consistent 6k footage (though this machine isn’t really meant to be a primary heavy video workflow machine)

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: Design & Build Quality

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra feels like Lenovo’s answer to the (in)famous Mac Studio. It’s compact, but not the most compact, a slightly thicker version of the also well-known Mac mini, or in the Lenovo world, the P3 Tiny.

The P3 Ultra has a 3.9L footprint and can be propped upright or vertically, or set horizontally and fit under a monitor, mount, or similar. Either way, make sure that the fans you see have plenty of clearance and room to breathe.

The team at Lenovo did a great job with the port layout on the P3 Ultra, placing the plug-and-forget ports on the back for easy cable management and a clean desktop. The front of the machine has quick ports for file transfer, a well-spaced split of ports for different needs, and all are compatible with thicker USB-A plugs.

Outside of design, the build quality is good and up to what I expect from Lenovo these days. Sharp corners, well-laid out, quality materials that should last for a long time, even with heavy, everyday, high-power use. Some machines are built to handle “perfect conditions,” and others are meant to withstand “real conditions” that everyday machines withstand.

Lenovo definitely favors the real-world conditions side, building machines designed to withstand the everyday grind and strain that always-on or relied-upon machines endure.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: In use

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra has been an impressive machine through and through. It’s been able to handle even intense workloads thrown at it, it’s benchmarked well, and in the most important sense, it hasn’t had any issues day to day.

I’ve run my full workload on this machine, pushing a 52-inch 6K display at full resolution, and it hasn’t even stuttered. While not everyone will be running that massive of a monitor, it’s great to know the P3 Ultra can deliver impressive graphics performance, especially for a business machine, not a graphics or media machine.

This desktop is a phenomenal option for CAD users, 3D rendering machines, and those handling large LLMs or large coding projects. It’s great for data admins who need to have a thousand tabs open at once, and it can handle those with 40GB of Chrome eating up their memory because they never close tabs.

Continuing the real-world usability, the ports are great. So far, I haven’t had to reach around or hope for another set of ports. Everything I’ve needed at setup was on the back, and everything I’ve needed since then have been on the front of the unit.

For more options, we've tested the best business computers.

There are a lot of business professional computers out there right now. I’ve got several that I’m actively testing right now on my desk, even. But most of those are designed for power, for maximum output, or for computational prowess.

For some, a several-thousand-dollar powerhouse is not what they need. For admins, front desk workers, data entry, or those who simply help manage calendars and email via a web browser, they don’t need a big machine, they just need something that can boot up quickly, operate reliably, and get the job done.

That’s where the land of mini or compact PCs comes in. Smaller units that can plug into any monitor size, hide away, and work as needed. That’s exactly what a good chunk of the professional workforce needs.

These machines need ports and basic functionality more than they need enough power to break records. Further, the front ports make plugging in drives, adapters, or other devices super easy, while the back ports are fantastic for plug-and-play peripherals.

For me, the price is slightly too high for what you get. Compare what's on offer here to a mini PC like the Geekom A8 Max (review here) and you see a wide gulf.

For that reason, it's never going to top our list of the best mini PCs we've tested. But if you’re a classic business professional who doesn’t need to max out their machine, this may be a great option to consider for office and home office use.

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Unboxing and First Impressions

Right off the bat, this is a spectacular representation of a compact machine. It’s great, not sacrificing too much for its compact size, balancing portability and real-world usability with the right workplace demand.

The fact that within the box, Lenovo have sent a mounting bracket as one of the only accessories in the box shows the focus on having this machine tucked away in a convenient or more aesthetic position, depending on the user.

The bracket makes it very easy to VESA mount, mount under a desk, behind a monitor on a wall, or something similar. That right there shows quite a bit of what you’d need to know about this unit before deciding whether to purchase.

We’ll go further into it later on in the review, but TLDR: it’s a solid machine that can fit just about anywhere, as long as your computing needs won’t outpace what it has onboard.

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Design & Build Quality

I’ve mentioned the smaller size, but perhaps this is the right time to go into the port offering. It has most of the ports on the back, with only a headphone, USB-C, and a USB-A on the front.

On the back, with all the ports, there are two DisplayPorts (on this model), an HDMI, a power port (sadly not USB-C), four USB-A ports, Ethernet, and an antenna port for adding a Wi-Fi antenna if desired. For most scenarios that this is designed to run in, I’d suggest hard-lining the internet, but that’s just one man’s opinion.

One thing to note is that there are not a lot of USB-C ports on this machine, even though it’s 2026 and USB-C is pretty common. I genuinely believe it’s because Lenovo knows its target. They aren’t trying to market to those who are brimming with the newest technology with this device; they care more about reaching the people and companies

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: In use

The Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC is a spectacular “behind-the-scenes admin machine” providing usability, ports you actually want, and easy setup. One of the great things about a monitor like this is the ability to connect any monitor you so choose.

For me, right now, I have rotated this machine around a few monitors during my testing.

The current monitor I have it on is the Dell 52-inch monster that was just released (review coming soon), but I have also used this mini PC on some BenQ monitors, some portable monitors, and others. It’s worked well on all of them, though pushing the 52-inch 6K beast at 100% scaling (small and sharp) was a bit much for this guy, so I had to scale it a little bit. But that’s understandable and was not a shock.

Using this machine as a kiosk, a front desk, or a basic always-on machine is exactly what it’s meant for. It works quickly and reliably, and it’s got enough ports not to need adapters. What else could you want for your basic office uses?

Because I wanted to simulate an office setup I have seen, I hooked this PC up to dual 1080p Dell monitors, and it worked great. Even going up to dual 4K still ran fine.

Another great option for this kind of setup is hot desking. Some companies need to have machines that can be used by multiple people via a network login or a guest login. This machine is great for that due to the abundance of ports, smaller profile requiring less desk space (or none if mounted), and good balance of power and price.

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Final verdict

In a world where everyone is boasting about the most advanced "this-or-that" machines, the ThinkCentre Neo 50qc QC is quietly puttering along as the machine most businesses would actually be interested in, not just flabbergasted by in a demo.

It’s got a great balance of power, price, and ports, making it a serious contender for a basic business machine.

To be frank, on paper, the specs won’t impress. This desktop PC isn't some advanced supercomputer that will power through every task. Despite that, the price is relatively high when compared to other Windows 11 mini PCs we've reviewed, and I wouldn't blame some for looking elsewhere to get a little more power for the same (or slightly less) cost.

Beyond that, though, this is a solidly built mini PC from a well-known brand that's well-specced for day-to-day business use, and it's difficult to find many faults if you know what you're getting into.

For more options, we've tested the best business computers.

• Xiaomi and Lenovo have both teased upcoming gaming phones
• In Lenovo's case, this will be its first gaming phone in years
• However, there's a high chance they'll only be sold in China

Gaming phones have always been slightly niche, but there used to be a decent number of them being made each year. Now, many brands have either stopped making them entirely or pulled out of certain markets. Lenovo was one such case, having officially stopped making gaming phones back in 2023, but now it has reversed course.

Over on Chinese site Weibo (via Android Authority), the company has announced that it will be launching a Lenovo Legion Y70 New Generation.

This will be Lenovo's first Legion gaming phone since 2022, and the post suggests it will be out as soon as May, though no concrete details have been shared just yet. That said, a leaked photo shared by Innogyan shows what appears to be a Legion phone with three cameras on the back, so it’s likely this is the upcoming handset.

It's not alone

And this isn’t the only upcoming gaming phone, as Xiaomi (via NotebookCheck) has also shared details of its upcoming Redmi K90 Max — a phone that you can see at the top of this article, and that’s set to launch on April 21.

This is already confirmed to have a high-end Dimensity 9500 chipset, and a 6.83-inch 165Hz screen, which can apparently maintain a 144Hz refresh rate and ‘ultra HD’ resolution for four hours when playing Honor of Kings.

So, this is very much a gaming-focused phone too, but there’s a catch with both of these devices, as so far they’ve only been confirmed for China, so they may well not get a global launch.

Still, the fact that they’re arriving at all suggests that there’s a renewed appetite for gaming phones, so hopefully it will only be a matter of time before new models do start launching globally.

• Lenovo has increased the price of its 2TB Legion Go 2 to $2,850
• The handheld now costs more than two Nvidia RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPUs
• Lenovo hasn't stated why there's been a price increase, but recent trends suggest the memory crisis is related

There's been a gradual calm to the currently raging storm that is the memory crisis and its impact on PC hardware, specifically with RAM kits slowly falling in price, but the chaos is far from over, and Lenovo just proved it.

As reported by Notebookcheck, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 Ryzen Z2 Extreme 2TB model now costs $2,850, listed on Lenovo's online store, a significant price hike from the original $1,480 retail price. This comes shortly after the cost of the 1TB model was increased by up to $2,000, which is $650 more than the original $1,350 price.

Notably, the 2TB model's $2,850 price makes the Windows-based handheld more expensive than two Nvidia RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPUs, which would cost $1,998, and more costly than a single RTX 5090, the most powerful desktop GPU currently available.

To say that the pricing here for handheld gaming devices is absurd would be an understatement. While the RAM crisis and unstable PC hardware market are likely to blame in this case, it's hard for any consumer to justify paying rent money for a device that isn't even the best in its own league.

There are handhelds such as the GPD Win 5 that cost less than the Legion Go 2 2TB, and offer gaming laptop-tier performance, using the AMD Ryzen Al Max+ 395. It's hard to see any world where gamers will choose the Lenovo Legion Go 2, frankly, over any product that's in the same price region of $2,000 or more.

Lenovo has yet to give any explanation on why the price increase has occurred, but if the recent trend of price hikes is anything to go by, it's due to the memory crisis. However, that's not an out for Lenovo, as a $2,000 for its 1TB model alone is unfeasible, and $2,850 feels like a late April Fools prank.

Unfortunately, price jumps such as these have been coming, and at this rate, it feels as though proceedings are only going to get worse as the crisis continues.

Handheld gaming has been in a great place for a few years, ever since Valve launched the Steam Deck in 2022, kicking off a raft of portable gaming PCs appearing in all manner of incarnations.

Since the Steam Deck muscled onto the scene, Lenovo, Asus, and Ayaneo have all been busy launching new handhelds, offering a wide variety of options from lower to higher-end devices. Some have struck a nicely affordable chord, although many have been criticized for being overpriced.

Valve's Steam Deck was (and arguably still is) the most popular among all the handheld gaming PCs on the market, giving gamers an easy way to dive into portable gaming for a reasonable price.

However, the situation with handhelds is swiftly changing, and not for the better. The AI boom has meant that prices for RAM and storage have skyrocketed, and the crisis is seemingly getting worse on a daily basis.

Notably, Ayaneo had its Next 2 handheld gaming PC poised to go sale, with pre-orders open and shipments scheduled for June 2026. Unfortunately, those pre-orders are no longer available, as the company has been forced to suspend sales for the new device due to rapidly rising component costs.

While Ayaneo is arguably a niche brand, one that pushes for higher specifications in a handheld that can provide gaming laptop-level performance, it's not the only company that has seen its line-up of handheld devices impacted by the ongoing memory chip crisis. And it doesn't look like it'll be the last, either.

The AI boom might destroy handheld gaming PCs

At this rate, handheld gaming PCs are in grave danger of gradually being phased out, at least as a mainstream force. We've reached a point where device manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the cost and lack of availability of RAM and storage, and consumers simply can't afford to pay entry-level desktop gaming PC prices for portable devices. All this is a direct result of the AI boom.

Ayaneo's case is a telling example here, with the company admitting that hardly any profit has been made from the Next 2 handheld pre-orders taken thus far, as the overall cost of production has risen so much.

Another prime example of the chaos being sown with handhelds is Valve's recent announcement that the Steam Deck OLED will be out of stock intermittently, and unsurprisingly, this is due to memory and storage supply issues.

The RAM crisis represents an increasingly difficult situation for Valve in particular, with the Steam Machine still in the pipeline for a launch in 2026 — and that has already faced a delay, once again, due to said crisis.

The affordability problems caused for both manufacturers and consumers are a recipe for disaster when it comes to handheld gaming PCs. The longer the AI boom continues, with data centers grabbing huge slabs of memory for AI tasks, the worse things will get for handheld production costs.

Ultimately, it all comes down to a nasty price to pay for consumers, who will be faced with ever more expensive price tags for handhelds that were already creeping into unaffordable territory even before the AI boom struck.

All this threatens to stall the progress that handheld gaming PCs have made since they grabbed their share of the limelight following the success of the Steam Deck. Previously this market was mostly dominated by niche brands like Ayaneo or Ayn, and those days could return — if the RAM crisis continues to make life miserable for handheld manufacturers, and consumer interest declines.

There are some tentative signs that the AI bubble could burst, notably with OpenAI putting the sword to Sora, and you never know what's around the next corner — it's not all doom and gloom.

However, I worry that even after the bubble eventually bursts — however long that may take — it could be some time before the supply of components normalizes. Predictions from analyst firms make that clear enough.

Hopefully, though, this component storm won't be raging for too long, and handheld gaming PCs will manage to weather it. That does, of course, remain to be seen, and unfortunately matters are looking pretty rocky right now.

Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition is a lightweight 14-inch laptop that blends OLED visuals, AI-powered performance, and long battery life into a sleek, travel-friendly design. And I found a huge saving on on the Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition, now £599 (was £899) at Currys.

An Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor keeps everything running smoothly, backed by integrated Intel Arc graphics for creative apps and everyday workloads. It handles multitasking, editing, and day-to-day use without feeling slow or strained.

With 16GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM, it will move through heavier tasks with ease. The 512GB SSD keeps load times quick and gives you enough space for projects, files, and apps.

Today's top Lenovo laptop deal

A 14-inch Full HD+ OLED display delivers sharp detail with rich contrast and vibrant colours. With 100% DCI-P3, DisplayHDR True Black 500, and Dolby Vision, it looks excellent for creative work and streaming alike.

Weighing just 1.19kg, it’s easy to carry around, whether you’re commuting or working remotely. Despite the slim build, it still packs in a solid set of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 connections and HDMI 2.1.

Battery life stretches up to 17.5 hours, so it can comfortably get through a full day without needing a charge. That kind of endurance will come in very handy if you’re often away from a desk.

A 5MP webcam with Windows Hello facial recognition keeps logins quick and secure, while the privacy shutter adds peace of mind when the camera isn’t in use.

Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos give it a boost for films, music, and calls, creating a fuller, more immersive sound than most laptops in this size.

At £599, this is one of the best deals I’ve seen for a slim, high-quality laptop with OLED and modern Intel hardware inside.

For more choices, look at our round up of the best business laptops you can buy.

• Shop all laptops at Currys

If you're after a compact desktop that keeps your workspace clean without giving up on everyday performance, I recommend checking out the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini Desktop, which is now $740 (was $850) at Best Buy.

This is a slim machine, measuring just 7.52 x 7.68 x 1.68 inches and weighing 3.99 pounds, so it’s easy to place anywhere, disappearing into a setup rather than taking over it.

The IdeaCentre is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 240H processor, with 10 cores and boost speeds up to 5.2GHz. It's paired with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, which is plenty for multitasking, office work, and general creative use.

Today's top Lenovo mini PC deal

A 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD is big enough for most files and there’s also room to expand, with support for up to 32GB of RAM and additional storage via M.2.

Integrated Intel graphics handle everyday workloads, including media editing and general productivity, meaning it's more than up to the job for typical home and office use.

Ports are clearly laid out and include 2 x USB-C 3.2, 3 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-A 2.0, plus HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4, along with Ethernet. It also includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth, and a 2.5G LAN port.

Cooling is handled by dual fans, keeping noise down while maintaining steady performance under load. It stays quiet enough that you won't really notice it during everyday use.

Windows 11 Home is preinstalled, with Copilot for quick access to AI features. At $740, this is a neat, capable desktop that fits comfortably into smaller setups without cutting corners.

For more top picks like this, these are the best mini PCs we've tested and reviewed.

• Shop all mini PCs at Best Buy

The new MacBook Neo might be Apple’s cheapest laptop yet, but you can spend less and get a better-specced Windows 11 machine without trying very hard. I’ve found three great Windows alternatives to the Apple MacBook Neo at Best Buy. And they're perfect business laptops that beat Apple's new laptop on specs, performance and price.

HP’s 15.6-inch laptop is also $549 (was $789), delivering 16GB of RAM with a 512GB SSD. It uses an Intel i3-N305 processor, which is more modest, although the extra memory and larger display make it a great, everyday option.

Lenovo's V14 G4 for $549.99 offers doubles the memory and storage of the Neo, with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It also packs an Intel Core i7-13620H, which delivers stronger multitasking performance and better headroom for heavier workloads.

Dell’s Inspiron Copilot+ model sits at $599.99 9was $799.99) and lines up directly against the Neo on price. It includes 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an 8-core Snapdragon X Plus processor with built-in AI features for modern Windows tasks.

Today's top Windows laptop deals

While we called it "the best budget laptop you can buy" in our MacBook Neo review, at $599, Apple's Neo gives you an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of unified memory, and a 256GB SSD. For $699, the configuration bumps storage to 512GB. That’s reasonable for the money, and Apple’s unified memory does stretch further than typical RAM, although 8GB still has limits once workloads stack up.

Memory is where things are more nuanced, as Apple’s unified approach means that 8GB can feel closer to higher capacities in lighter use. Even so, all three Windows laptops offer 16GB, which still gives them more breathing room for heavier multitasking and demanding apps.

Storage tells a similar story, with every Windows option starting at 512GB while Apple charges extra to reach that level. That alone makes the base Neo feel a bit limited for long-term use.

Display quality still leans toward Apple, as the Liquid Retina panel offers sharper resolution and higher brightness than these Full HD panels. It looks excellent, although it doesn’t completely offset the hardware gap elsewhere.

Battery life and efficiency could still favor the Neo, especially with Apple silicon, although newer Windows systems are getting closer.

Looking at these deals side by side, you’re getting more RAM, more storage, and comparable or better performance for less money with the Windows alternatives, even if Apple squeezes more out of its memory than most.

For more choices, look at our round up of the best business laptops you can buy.

• Shop all laptops at Best Buy

It's the last day of Amazon's Spring Sale, and it's your last chance to save on some great business laptops from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and MSI.

I review business laptops for a living, so I've searched through everything in the Amazon Spring Deal Days Sale to find the laptop deals you won't want to miss if you're a professional who needs reliable machine.

For smooth performance in day-to-day business tasks, I've ensured each laptop here is equipped with a minimum Intel Core 5 / AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 16GB of memory, and 512GB SSD.

All of the options below are suitable for productivity tasks, running Office software, browsing the web, and holding video calls. And at under £500 for known-brand machines, they're the business laptop deals you won't want to miss.

For more savings, I've also found 50home office upgrades under £50.

The top business laptops under £500 in Amazon's Spring Sale

More of today's Amazon Spring Sale highlights

• Amazon Devices: Fire TV & Blink from £13.99
• Apple: AirPods & Apple Watch from £139
• Appliances: up to 30% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Clothing: up to 50% off Sketchers & Crocs
• Essentials: from £5
• Gaming: up to 50% off PS5 & Switch games
• Headphones: Sony & Shokz from £59
• Health & Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Smart home: up to 50% off cameras & doorbells
• Smartwatches: Apple & Huawei from £99
• Tablets: Fire & Galaxy Tabs from £59.99
• Toys: up to 30% off Lego
• TVs: from £139.99
• Vacuums: up to 30% off Shark & Vax

• Lenovo reframes modular computing through enterprise durability requirements
• The ThinkBook concept is more for fleets than consumers
• System-level AI integration anchors the broader hardware strategy

At MWC 2026, Lenovo showed off a move toward modular hardware and system-level artificial intelligence, combining adaptive concepts with a broad commercial refresh.

The most conspicuous example of this is the ThinkBook Modular AI PC concept, which borrows a Lego-like philosophy of interchangeable parts and configurable layouts.

The approach revives long-running industry ambitions around modular computing, inviting comparisons with Project Ara, the abandoned modular smartphone initiative developed under Motorola ownership before Google discontinued it.

Modular ambition meets enterprise pragmatism

At the center of this showcase is a 14-inch ultra-thin base system built to accept detachable displays, input modules, and modular I/O elements.

A secondary screen can attach in different orientations or replace the keyboard entirely, expanding the workspace to roughly 19 inches while retaining portability.

“The AI era will not be defined by a single device or application, but by intelligent systems that work seamlessly across everything we use,” said Luca Rossi, President, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo.

“We are demonstrating how Lenovo and Motorola are bringing that vision to life, combining adaptive hardware innovation with a single, unified system-level AI integration that works naturally across PCs, smartphones, tablets, wearables, and beyond.”

That ecosystem relies heavily on Lenovo Qira, which it describes as Personal Ambient Intelligence embedded at the system level rather than layered on top as an app.

Although the modular ThinkBook may draw attention for its flexibility, the surrounding portfolio signals a clear commercial emphasis, as the updated ThinkPad T Series focuses on serviceability and lifecycle value, with select models earning high iFixit repairability scores.

Lenovo connects those improvements to reduced downtime and sustainable fleet management, a message that resonates more with procurement teams than casual buyers.

The ThinkPad X13 Detachable extends this approach with field-replaceable components in a lightweight format suited to frontline professionals.

The ThinkTab X11, a rugged Android tablet built for industrial settings, further reinforces that direction.

These devices prioritize durability, manageability, and integration with corporate security frameworks such as firewall controls and endpoint security policies.

Lenovo's approach’s does not follow the same trajectory as Motorola Ara, given its clearer business-to-business strategy where versatility sits at the center.

It embeds the system within a broader commercial ecosystem that includes lifecycle services and AI deployment tools.

Even so, the viability of detachable displays and modular I/O components will depend on durability, pricing, and real-world adoption across enterprise fleets.

The failure of Project Ara stemmed from both the appeal and the practical constraints of modular hardware at scale, and increased complexity, cost pressures, and limited developer support at the time also contributed to its demise.

At present, modular systems appear to face stronger enterprise demand and fewer structural barriers, which explains why brands such as Getac and HP continue to develop devices like the Getac S510AD and HP EliteBook 8 G1 for organizations that require configurable, durable hardware environments.

Lenovo’s modular ThinkBook concept appears to sit closer to that tradition than to consumer experimentation.

MWC 2026 is in full swing here in Barcelona, Spain, and while my usual beat for TechRadar is all things computing, I’ve been walking around the show floor of this huge tech event on the lookout for a new smartphone to get excited about.

I’ve felt for a while that smartphone designs and technology have hit a plateau. The hardware and form factor are now pretty much perfect for what we currently use our phones for (doom scrolling, taking photos, and making the rare phone call, essentially, in my case), which has left phone makers scrambling to find a reason to convince us to upgrade from our perfectly fine handsets.

I’ve got a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and two years on, it remains an excellent phone, which has meant that no amount of foldable screens or AI features (two things phone makers have been trying to get people excited about) has made me want to switch to a new device.

However, I’m pleased to say that at this year’s MWC I have finally found a smartphone I’m seriously considering ditching my trusty S24 Ultra for – and it comes from a rather surprising place: TCL.

I say ‘surprising’ because I’ve always associated TCL with TVs, so when I was invited to check out its smartphones and tablets, I was intrigued – and that quickly turned to excitement.

TCL’s display expertise has produced a series of smartphones with the company’s NXTPAPER screen tech, which are essentially color e-paper displays similar to what you’d fine on a high-end ebook reader, and its latest flagship phones, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro (which features the latest generation of this tech) caught my eye straight away.

The NXTPAPER 4.0 behind the screen looks fantastic, with a matte-like finish that’s completely free from reflections and glare. Unlike my experience with (admittedly older) color e-paper displays, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro’s screen was bright and vibrant. It also felt fast and responsive when opening apps (the phone runs on Android) – without the screen needing to refresh with every change, something that frustrates me when I use my Kindle.

The phone also features an additional key, though unlike my S4 Ultra’s Bixby button that I immediately changed from calling up Samsung’s unlovable virtual assistant to something actually worth using, the 70 Pro’s NXTPAPER Key could see a lot more action. It switches the display between several modes: Colour Paper Mode, Ink Paper Mode and Max Ink Mode, and it does so with a rather cool-looking ripple transition animation. The Max Ink Mode is the most ebook-like screen setting, with a simple black and white display that should be ideal for reading on – and prolongs the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro’s battery life on standby to a huge 26 days.

You can also use a stylus for doodling and writing notes, with the T-Pen stylus offering a pleasantly responsive experience, especially with the NXTPAPER’s paper-like surface. Elsewhere, the specs seems decent for a smartphone, with a 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide, and 32MP front camera. The chip is a MediaTek Dimensity 7300, and comes with 8GB RAM that can be expanded to 24GB, with 512GB storage.

So, this would likely be a downgrade in performance from my S24 Ultra (especially its photo-taking abilities), but gosh, that screen is gorgeous. And, with a starting price of €299 (around $350 / £260 / AU$500), it’s a very compelling price, and much cheaper than the $1,299.99 ( £1,279 / AU$2,199) Samsung would demand of me if I were to upgrade to the S26 Ultra.

However, just as I was seriously weighing up getting the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, TCL went and showed me something that immediately made me put those plans on hold.

NXTPAPER + AMOLED = take my money!

TCL’s major announcement at MWC is the next generation of NXTPAPER, which combines the e-paper display of NXTPAPER with AMOLED screen technology.

This results in an absolutely stunning and vibrant display, and TCL had handsets on show with the screen. Everything that impressed me with NXTPAPER was present, including the flicker-free, anti-glare experience, but with a level of color vibrancy and detail that really impressed me. Thanks to the AMOLED tech, the handsets on show were also noticeably lighter than the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro.

I mentioned how I’d love to read comics on this screen, and there must be a fellow comic book fan at TCL, as they had plenty of examples of what comics would look like using this tech – and I was blown away. Images popped and text was clear, and the paper-like display made for a much more comfortable reading experience, whilst also giving you a similar experience to reading a physical comic.

I immediately started planning to buy whatever device comes with this screen, but at the moment the handsets are all pre-production, and there’s no solid release date, though I was told it would be ‘soon’.

It definitely meant I’m going to put my search for a new phone on hold until I see handsets with the NXTPAPER and AMOLED screens in the wild, and while Samsung’s innovative Privacy Display is a cool feature with some admirable goals behind it, I’m far less interested in protecting my privacy, and more enthusiastic about firing up my Marvel Unlimited subscription to catch up on my beloved X-Men instead. Stupid? Yes. Nerdy? Of course! Inevitable? Absolutely.

TechRadar is on the show floor for this year’s MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain, and we’ll be covering the latest news from some of the biggest names in mobile, computing, fitness and more.

Lenovo is developing quite the reputation for showing off innovative (and sometimes strange) product concepts at big tech events, and at MWC 2026 it's continuing that tradition.

I've just been shown its latest concepts at the huge tech event currently taking place in Barcelona, Spain, and was left impressed by not just what was on show, but also what wasn't even mentioned.

Product concepts are essentially prototypes that show off cool new ideas to give us an idea of what future gadgets could look and perform like, so while you can't go out and buy the things Lenovo showed me right now, it's likely that a lot of the tech will some day make its way into real products — and I just hope we don't have to wait too long.

ThinkBook Modular AI PC Concept

Last time I was at MWC was around a decade ago (oh, goodness), and I remember modular phones, including Google's Project Ara, were the buzz of Barcelona, and here I am being shown a modular laptop... and I'm impressed.

At first glance, the ThinkBook Modular AI PC Concept looks like a fairly standard laptop, except it has two screens — one on the front, and one on the back. The rear screen can be easily removed (it's held there via a magnetic connector) and can be used as a portable second screen (attached via cable).

The keyboard can also be removed, and you can swap it with the second screen for a more 'traditional' dual-screen laptop — and the keyboard can be used while detached thanks to its Bluetooth connection.

Beneath, where the keyboard usually sits, are two modular I/O ports (one on each side of the laptop). These can be swapped out, allowing the user to switch between USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI ports. It's a nice little touch that makes this concept feel far more flexible and convenient.

While what Lenovo showed me was just a prototype, it was impressively slick, with all the pieces slotting into place securely, which makes me hopeful that we could see modular laptops soon.

Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept

Here's another blast from the past: 3D. Remember when tech companies decided that 3D was the next big thing and crammed it into all kinds of devices, including TVs and laptops?

I certainly do. And, while I was pleased to see the back of that tech trend several years ago, Lenovo could bring it back with the Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept.

Now, before you begin rolling your eyes, Lenovo is at least not pitching the return of 3D to casual users — instead, it's targetting makers, 3D artists and creators.

The Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept is a dual-screen laptop, with the main screen capable of glasses-free 3D. Using eye-tracking tech in the webcam, the Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept adjusts the image so you get a clear 3D experience from where you're sat. Meanwhile, the bottom screen is a bright and vibrant touchscreen that you can use like a graphics tablet to edit art, then view your creations on the 3D screen.

Using the webcam, you can also manipulate objects on the 3D screen by making gestures in the air. By pinching my fingers on both hands and slowly moving them apart, I was able to zoom in on a 3D object, and by slightly rotating my hands while I was doing that, I could rotate the object on screen.

It felt responsive and natural (even in the less-than-perfect environment of a busy show floor), and I can definitely see the appeal for product designers who want to see what their designs could end up looking like. It's not for me, but at least Lenovo isn't trying to tell me that it is.

Legion Go Fold Concept

I love my various PC gaming handhelds, especially the Asus ROG Ally X, so it was great to see Lenovo experiment with the handheld form factor in a similar way it's been pushing boundries with laptop designs.

The Legion Go Fold Concept is a large 7.7-inch gaming tablet that you can attach two halves of a controller to either side of the screen (like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Lenovo Legion Go).

The screen can be unfolded to a bigger 11.6-inch display, and you can continue to use it as a gaming handheld, now with a much bigger screen in horizontal 'Horizon' mode. Or, if you prefer, you can rotate the screen vertically, reconnect the controllers and use the screen in split-screen mode, where your game is on one half, leaving the other half to display apps or websites (such as game guides).

While this is the concept that feels the furthest away from being released (Lenovo still needs to work out how to turn off half the screen when it's folded backwards, and I'm concerned about how scratched the rear screen could become), I love the fact that Lenovo is already experimenting with this relatively new device category.

AI MIA

One thing that struck me whilst Lenovo was talking me through the concepts was the absence of AI.

While AI was included in some of the product names, Lenovo didn't bother to mention artificial intelligence, which came as a pleasant surprise as MWC 2026 (like most recent tech events) is absolutely chock full of companies pushing AI in the products — a lot like how they tried to make 3D a thing years ago.

Many companies at this year's event are touting AI as the future of mobiles and computing, but are failing to really show us why they think AI is the future (outside of using it as a glorified search engine or virtual assistant).

In contrast, Lenovo's vision of the future seemed far more interested in the physical hardware itself, and that's a far more interesting idea. It certainly made me more excited for the future of laptops than any amount of generative AI slop would.

TechRadar is on the show floor for this year’s MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain, and we’ll be covering the latest news from some of the biggest names in mobile, computing, fitness and more.