Back in November 2025, Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) warned that memory shortages could hit consumer electronics in 2026. Lenovo, the world’s biggest PC maker, pushed back, saying it has enough memory chips to cover the whole year and can handle any shortages better than other companies. Now at CES 2026, Lenovo shows off a new AI platform, Qira, along with a bunch of proof-of-concept devices.
I think the XD Rollable Concept is the coolest device in Lenovo’s lineup, though that’s just my opinion. You might find another concept product here even more interesting.
Qira AI platform
Qira runs across PCs, tablets, phones, wearables, and more from Lenovo and Motorola. Deep software ties remove the need for a separate app, unlike tools such as ChatGPT. That pulls me in because I often need AI on the move and dealing with Face ID or a passcode slows me down.
“By sharing experiences with you over time, it learns your intent, anticipates needs, and acts in ways that feel natural and personal,” says Lenovo. That line pushes me to scan Lenovo’s privacy policy.
Lenovo, like Apple, says its hybrid AI design keeps work on device so personal data stays on device. I still miss detail on heavy tasks. Picture an Apple Intelligence request. A model on your device checks scope. If the job needs a larger model, Apple Intelligence uses Private Cloud Compute and sends request data to Apple silicon servers. Those servers keep no record and offer no access to Apple. I want to know how Lenovo Qira and Motorola Qira handle requests at that scale. I’ve already emailed Lenovo for clarification and will update the article once I hear back.
Productivity laptops
Lenovo works with all three big processor companies—Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm—but its top-tier systems share one key feature: Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” chips. Lenovo calls these systems “Aura Editions,” and they show off AI-focused tools like “Smart Modes,” which detect what you’re doing and tweak settings, and “Smart Share,” which lets you send photos and videos to chosen devices.
At CES 2026, Lenovo unveiled the latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition and ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 Aura Edition. These premium business laptops target AI workloads. Both bring Lenovo’s new Space Frame design, which spreads components across both sides of the motherboard. This layout improves cooling and keeps performance high over long sessions. That’s a relief, since I often hear that the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i requires constant charging during heavy editing sessions.
ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept
Among Lenovo’s proof-of-concept devices, one stands out to me—the ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept. It shows Lenovo’s vision for a PC with a screen that grows.
The ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept ranks among the first out-fold units with a world-facing display and an expanding user screen. It can shift from a 13.3-inch view to about 16 inches when you need more screen real estate for multitasking. In my younger days, when I carried a 16-inch laptop, I loved the wide view, but my back wasn’t a fan of the weight. So if you’re a big-picture person but hate the clunkiness, you have something to look forward to.
AI Glasses Concept
Lenovo jumps on the smart eyewear wave with a concept pair of AI glasses. The frames weigh 45 grams, which keeps them light, and a 2MP camera sits above the nose bridge.
Lenovo lists touch and voice input, hands-free calling, music playback, and connectivity to phones and PCs. That last point stands out, since few smart glasses integrate with PCs. One notable exception is the XREAL One Pro, which can create and control displays from iPhones, Android phones, Steam Deck, PCs, MacBooks, and devices that support USB-C video output. The XREAL One Pro sits at the top of the category and sets the benchmark for Lenovo’s AI Glasses Concept.
AI-Powered Display Concepts
The Lenovo Smart Sense Display Concept acts as a smart multidevice hub. It connects to devices with cables and links to a phone, laptop, and tablet without wires. The 27 inch UHD screen pulls everything together in one place.
During work meetings, the Smart Sense Display Concept’s setup feels simple. Slides show up from a laptop. Notes appear from a tablet. Photos come in from a phone. The display connects to all three at once and shows everything on a single screen. Everyone sees the full picture with no hassle.
Lenovo also previewx the AI-Powered Personalized Display Concept, which offers real-time visual support for many users. The screen shifts with user profiles, time of day, and location. It sets brightness, adjusts color tone, and tracks wellness through posture, eye fatigue, and other signals.
The AI-Powered Personalized Display Concept reminds me of the Google Nest Hub Max. Google’s smart display uses a camera to recognize each person in a home and shows personal information for them, including upcoming calendar events and reminders.
Bottom line
Lenovo’s CES 2026 showing feels ambitious, even if some questions remain. The Rollable XD is the standout, while the Aura Edition laptops prove Lenovo is thinking long-term about AI performance. Qira has a lot of potential, but its success will depend on how transparent Lenovo is about privacy and cloud use.