It wasn’t hard to find a common thread among the new Windows laptops shown at CES 2025. Besides renewing expectations for the next generation, the big trade show was all about getting more people to buy into the idea of ​​AI-powered PCs this year. .
With consumers still hesitant to embrace AI laptops, prioritizing hardware improvements over fancy software features, companies’ selling points had to come from multiple angles. Widely accepted affordability, a commitment to bring Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon X processor to more budget-friendly devices. (Copilot+ PCs as expensive as fancy Chromebooks? Yes, please.) Others have tested new construction materials, aimed at eco-conscious consumers with a chassis made of oyster shells and ultralight “plasma ceramic aluminum.” One vertical manufacturer has renamed its entire line of long-standing PCs in the hopes of helping consumers more easily find the AI ​​PC that best suits their needs — even though it doesn’t seem to have gone so well.
The best of CES 2025: Everything that stole the show, according to our experts
Then there’s Lenovo, which launched an exciting new AI “rollable” laptop because it wants to see what’s possible with OLED technology. It’s actually real this time too.
After countless hours on the Las Vegas Strip and lots of debating, here are our top three AI laptops we saw at CES 2025 — and a few decent speakers.
Best overall AI laptop: Asus Zenbook A14
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
Made from a magnesium-aluminum alloy called “Ceraluminum” that’s soft, strong, and 100 percent recyclable, Asus’ new 14-inch ultraportable weighs 2.18 pounds, depending on the model — making it a lightweight Copilot+ PC most in the world. It features a beautiful OLED display, a touch-controlled touchpad, and up to 32 hours of battery life per charge, which is unmatched among laptops in Mashable’s review database. Asus didn’t say that clearly, but all things considered, this is an obvious answer to the Apple MacBook Air. (Those digits in their name even look like the word “AIR.”) It’s quite competitively priced, too.
Since Jan. 13, the Snapdragon X Elite configuration will be available on Best Buy and Asus’ websites for $1,099.99. Look for the Snapdragon X variant for $899.99 at Best Buy this March.
Read Mashable’s hands-on review of the Asus Zenbook A14.
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The most advanced AI laptop: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
We’ve seen it from afar, but Lenovo’s new 14-inch business computer with a “rollable” OLED display is heading to market soon. Users can extend the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 screen with a simple hand or touch of a dedicated key; the display slides smoothly from under its keyboard, adding 50 percent more vertical real estate. Lenovo took two years to work on this design after presenting it as a concept, and it’s very solid and polished by hand. It’s a compelling new alternative to dual-display laptops for serious multitaskers, as long as you can afford it.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 will start at $3,499 when it launches sometime later in Q1 2024.
Read Mashable’s review of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable.
The most unexpected AI laptop: Acer Aspire Vero 16
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
Acer’s latest Aspire Vero 16 brings new meaning to the term “clamshell laptop”: Its chassis is partly made of oyster shells harvested in Taiwan, where the company’s headquarters are based. The shells are cleaned, crushed, and mixed with a blend of over 70 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, resulting in a solid gray case with a speckled appearance. Under its hood, it runs on Intel’s recently announced Core Ultra 200H processors.
The Aspire Vero 16 will start at $799.99 when it goes on sale next April.
Read Mashable’s hands-on review of the Acer Aspire Vero 16.
Honorable mention: GeForce RTX 50 Series gaming laptops
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The announcement of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 50 Series was one of the biggest moments of CES 2025, and we got a brief look at several upcoming laptops that will use it. (That includes the refreshed Razer Blade 16, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16, and the HP Omen Max 16, pictured above.) We didn’t actually play anything on them — they just connected a few clips to our tee. demos – so we don’t have much to say about them right now except that they all look really shiny and expensive. However, we look forward to reviewing more of them once they start rolling out in March. Next-generation PC gaming is almost upon us.
Honorable mention: Asus Adol 14 Air
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
Asus dedicated a small corner of the CES show to its scented notebook made in collaboration with fashion designer Anna Sui, which has a subtle, adjustable scent diffuser built into the center of its lid. It’s gimmicky, sure, but it’s also very endearing. The notebook is available in four pastel colors, including purple with butterfly motifs and a matching travel case. It’s only available in China right now, but wider availability may be imminent. Please, put me down.
