CPUs:
• Intel Core Ultra (series 2):
Intel’s Lunar Lake processors are here to replace and provide 15% to 30% performance gain over the older Intel’s Meteor Lake (Core Ultra series 1), also they’re to take over the Qualcomm’s Arm-based processors (Snapdragon X Elite series), claiming to get about 1.2 to 2.2 power efficiency of the mentioned predecessors, with all these new CPUs implemented into the market the Battey life/Power efficiency battle that Apple dominated for years is back on business.
• AMD Z2 Extreme:
After the viral success of AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip in the handheld gaming devices like Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion GO, AMD just tipped the Z2 Extreme chip for 2025 handheld devices competing with Steam Deck, no more details other than AMD already in conversations with multiple handheld devices makers so the chip maybe already in their hands.
Laptops:
- Lenovo:
ThinkBook 16:
the cheapest Qualcomm Copilot Plus PC yet, it features Qualcomm’s new budget 8-core chip underneath a 16-inch 2K 60Hz, 300-nit IPS display with “up to” 32GB RAM and 1TB storage. It does come standard with a big 84Wh battery.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon:
Lenovo’s 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon and 15-inch Yoga Slim 7i now have Intel Lunar Lake chips alongside 2.8K OLED screens and twin Thunderbolt 4 ports. Lenovo says the 2.16-pound Carbon is its lightest ever, they’re both now (Aura Edition) laptops, which apparently means software like focus modes, posture alerts, and “Smart Share” tap an iPhone or Android to your laptop to share photos. - ASUS:
ZenBook S14 & VivoBook S14:
Asus is bringing Intel’s latest Lunar Lake processors to its sleek Zenbook S14, promising a perfect blend of power and portability. Weighing in at a mere 1.13kg and measuring just 10.9mm thick, it’s an easily packable bit of kit. And it doesn’t skimp on performance either. With up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, a 14in 2880 x 1800 OLED display boasting a silky-smooth 120 Hz refresh rate, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
VivoBook S 15:
Asus’ first Copilot Plus PC is getting a new Qualcomm chip, The 15-inch Vivobook S 15 Windows laptop will come with an eight-core Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 2880 x 1620 display with a 120Hz refresh rate. - Acer:
Acer announced it’s expanding its Swift AI laptop line with models featuring Intel’s new Lunar Lake chips. - MSI:
MSI Stealth AI 16+ has a bit of a unique proposition: a Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 that should see Copilot+ support soon, as well as a discrete GPU going up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, You’re getting a 99.9 WHr battery the largest you can take on a plane, crammed into a magnesium-aluminum chassis that’s just 0.78 inches thick. There’s also a per-key RGB keyboard (courtesy of SteelSeries, as usual on MSI gaming laptops), six speakers, and a massive touchpad. - Samsung:
Samsung’s entry into the Microsoft Copilot Plus AI PCs Galaxy Book4 Edge, but here’s a new 15-incher with Qualcomm’s budget 8-core chip, plus a Galaxy Book5 back flipper with Intel’s Lunar Lake, but both boast over 24 hours video playback; the Book5 has a 16-inch, 3K 120Hz OLED display that claims 120 percent DCI-P3 color.
Promising Ideas:
• Twist AI:
Auto twist AI Laptop, IdeaPad twist concept stood out of the notebook crowd, thanks to Lenovo innovations auto rotating hinge that can open, close or convert via voice commands as well as swivel and tilt by tracking user’s motion ensuring optimal viewing angles, investment on hands free products is getting larger by time as it could provide real value to users with certain disabilities.
• DualPlay:
Project DualPlay crams a controller on the underside of the touchpad, with two Nintendo Switch-style Joycons and a grip to hold them together, giving gamers more ways to play on the go, but it could negatively affect their prices plans.
Sources:
• IFA 2024: the biggest announcements and coolest gadgets from Europe’s largest tech show – The Verge
• Best of IFA 2024: New CPUs, new laptops, and more | Tom’s Hardware (tomshardware.com)
• Stuff’s IFA Awards 2024: the best tech highlights from the huge tech expo | Stuff
• The Best of IFA 2024 (pcmag.com)