Lenovo's top ThinkPads and Yogas go all-in on Panther Lake — business laptops come with Windows and Linux options
SOURCE:Tom's Hardware|BY: Andrew E. Freedman
Lenovo is updating its high-end ThinkPad and Yoga laptops with Intel's Panther Lake Core Ultra processors at CES 2026.
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo is updating its expansive productivity laptop lineup at CES 2026, including both its famed ThinkPad business notebooks and its consumer and creative-oriented Yogas. While Lenovo is aligning itself with all three big processor companies, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, its top-end systems all have one thing in common: Intel's new Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors.
Those systems are what Lenovo calls "Aura Editions," which the company uses to showcase AI-focused tools, like "Smart Modes" that can detect what you're doing and change settings, or "Smart Share," which lets you share photos and videos with selected devices.
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Row 0 - Cell 0
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11
Aura Edition
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15p Aura Edition
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition
Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i Aura Edition
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition
CPU
Intel Core Ultra X7 Series 3 processors
Up to Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 processors
Intel Core Ultra X7 Series 3 processors
Up to Intel Core Ultra X9 processor
Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 386H
Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 386H
GPU
Intel Arc 12Xe or Intel integrated
Intel Arc 12Xe or Intel integrated
Intel Arc 12Xe
Integrated
Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
RAM
Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-9600
Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-9600
Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-9600
Up to 32GB LPDDR5x-9500
Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-7467
Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-7467
Storage
Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD
Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD
Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD
Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Display
Up to 2880 x 1800 OLED, touch optional
Up to 2880 x 1800 OLED, touch optional
15.3-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120 Hz VRR, OLED, touch optional
15.3-inch, 2560 x 1600, OLED, 165 Hz VRR, touch optional
Up to 16-inch, 3200 x 2000, 120 Hz VRR, Tandem OLED, touch
Ports
3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm headphone jack
3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm headphone jack
3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader, 3.5 mm headphone jack
3x Thunderbolt 4
2x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, 2x USB Type-A 3.2, SD card reader (UHS-II), 3.5 mm headphone jack
2x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, 2x USB Type-A 3.2, SD card reader (UHS-II), 3.5 mm headphone jack
Networking
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, 5G optional
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, 5G optional
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
Battery
58 WHr
58 WHr
88 WHr
75 WHr
Up to 92.5 WHr
Up to 92.5 WHr
OS Options
Windows 11, Linux
Windows 11, Linux
Windows 11 Pro or Home, Ubuntu
Windows 11
Windows 11
Windows 11
Availability
March 2026
March 2026
March 2026
Q2 2026
Q2 2026
Q2 2026
Starting Price
$1,999
$2,149
$1,999
$1,499.99
$1,799.99
$1,899.99
ThinkPads and Business Laptops
The flagship ThinkPads are the X1 series. This year, the X1 Carbon and X1 2-in-1 are debuting new "Space Frame" chassis, which rearrange the interiors of systems so that components can be placed on either side of the motherboard. The company says this space efficiency also allows for higher sustained performance due to better cooling, as well as easier repairs with replaceable parts including the battery, USB ports, keyboard, fans, and speakers.
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo says that these systems will have up to 20% increased heat dissipation due to updated thermal architecture. Both systems also come with a new 10MP camera with a 110-degree field of view.
Meanwhile, the ThinkPad X9 15p Aura Edition — a take on the laptop
— is also jumping up to Panther Lake, including Intel Core X9 processors. The system features what Lenovo says is the largest ThinkPad haptic touchpad (135 x 85 mm), and will also get a 10MP camera.
(Image credit: Future)
These Aura PCs aren't cheap. They will all go on sale in March, with the X1 Carbon starting at $1,999, the X1 2-in-1 beginning at $2,149, and the ThinkPad X9 15p launching at $1,999. Interestingly, all of these laptops will come with both Windows 11 and Linux as configuration options.
In addition, Lenovo is bringing its motorized hinge-toting "Auto Twist" concept, which debuted as a concept at IFA in 2024, to a real laptop in its small business line, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist, which will go on sale starting at $1,649.
Yogas and Consumer Laptops
On Lenovo's consumer side, there are two dramatically different categories of device. The Yoga Pro 7i and 9i Aura Edition are both focused on creatives, with up to Intel's Core Ultra 9 386H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070. The Yoga Pro 9i has an option for a Tandem OLED display, a six-speaker sound system, and uses a power adapter going up to 245W (the 7i provides up to 140W over a standard USB Type-C connection). These will launch in Q2 starting at $1,799.99 for the 7i and $1,899.99 for the 9i.
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The other extreme is the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition, a 14-inch white system coming in at less than 2.2 pounds. You'll still get up to an Intel Core ultra X9 with up to 12 Xe graphics cores and 9600 MHz RAM, as well as a new matte texture that Lenovo says will reduce fingerprints. This system will start at $1,499.99 in Q2.
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo also has Yogas with AMD and Qualcomm processors. The latest AMD Ryzen AI 400 chips will power the Yoga Slim 7a, while the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Plus will come to the Yoga Slim 7x. These are both 14-inch devices with 2880 x 1800 touch screens, designed for mobility and power efficiency. The Slim 7x will start at $949.99 in Q2, while the 7a is only being sold in select markets.
Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and BlueSky @andrewfreedman.net. You can send him tips on Signal: andrewfreedman.01
