Ahead of next week’s CES, Lenovo today added a new 5G model to its IdeaPad line, along with the option to buy the laptops with 16:10 displays.
The 14-inch IdeaPad 5G laptop runs a Qualcomm 5G modem and an ARM-based processor in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx compute platform.
Lenovo also introduced the IdeaPad 5 Pro series, which will offer customers the 16:10 aspect ratio for the first time. However, only one of the laptops announced today is bound for the US; the 16-inch AMD-powered IdeaPad 5 Pro arrives in May. Lenovo says it will release the other products in the US later in the year, but no dates have been confirmed.
For the IdeaPad 5G, Lenovo opted for Qualcomm’s technology over Intel and AMD. The result is a Snapdragon laptop that promises 20 hours of continuous battery life when it comes to video playback.
In addition to Wi-Fi, the laptop can also connect to cellular 5G and 4G LTE networks, thanks to the Qualcomm X55 modem on board. “This practical yet sleek device makes it easier for multitaskers to stay connected at home or on the go by combining what you love about your smartphone,” Lenovo says.
The laptop itself has a 14-inch 1080p IPS display, which can use the Qualcomm Adreno 680 for graphics. The product also comes with up to 8GB in LPDDR4X RAM, 512GB of PCIe SSD storage, front-facing speakers, and a microphone. Expect the product to weigh in at 2.6 pounds. Unfortunately, no pricing or exact release date were announced.
With the IdeaPad 5 Pro series, Lenovo is ditching the standard 16:9 aspect ratio, and raising the vertical viewing space by incorporating 16:10 displays. As a result, you’ll notice the screens on these laptops are a little higher than an average IdeaPad.
According to Lenovo, the new aspect ratio should make the IdeaPad Pro better for multitasking and watching movies. The laptops will come in 14-inch or 16-inch panels, and options to use either Intel’s 11th generation Core processors or AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 5000 mobile chips.
The Intel variants, dubbed the IdeaPad 5i Pro, will first launch in March in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The 14-inch model will start at €699 ($859) while the 16-inch will go for €899 and up.
The AMD versions, on the other hand, will land in May, including the 16-inch model, which is headed for the US market starting at $1,149.
