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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Lenovo announced a handful of new additions to its core line of ThinkPad laptops today at IFA in Berlin. 
• The new devices announced are the ThinkPad P1 Gen 8, ThinkPad P16v Gen 3, and ThinkPad X9 in a new Glacier White colorway.
• The ThinkPad X9 made waves earlier this year, breaking with the lineup’s aesthetics for a slick form factor and new “engine hub” design concept. 

When the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition debuted at CES in early 2025, it immediately caught my attention for its stark departure from the ThinkPad design ethos. No TrackPoint, no black, utilitarian design, and no left/right trackpad buttons. Was this even a ThinkPad?

Well, yes, but it’s something entirely new, as well. The X9 is a highly functional laptop in its own right, with an ultraportable form, decent battery life, and sleek aesthetic with its ribbed bottom plate and engine hub. In fact, it was our pick for best Windows laptop of 2025 for its combination of performance relative to value, and bold design. 

Also: The 4 coolest gadgets I’ve seen at IFA 2025 (including ones you can actually buy)

So what’s new with the X9? It’s white. The matte “Glacial White” colorway adds a sleek, future-forward aesthetic to a laptop that was already unafraid of breaking from the mold. It comes in a 14- and 15-inch form factor and includes the same hardware as the original configuration: an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor. 

Notably, however, the white X9 has bumped up local storage to a 1TB SSD in both the 14- and 15-inch configuration, my biggest criticism of the original silver model when I reviewed it, which came in a 256GB or 512GB version. 

Additionally, the whole “Aura Edition” feature set generated some buzz last year at IFA for its physical tap-to-share feature, but Lenovo has since decided to transition away from that feature toward its own file-sharing app called Lenovo Connect. 

Core ThinkPad upgrades

Alongside the ThinkPad X9, Lenovo also showed off a few mobile workstations, with two laptops in particular as the most impactful models. The eighth-generation ThinkPad P1 runs a Series 2 Intel Core Ultra processor and, most notably, an Nvidia RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell graphics card.

If you’re not familiar, the PRO 2000 Blackwell card is part of a new series of Nvidia GPUs that specialize in professional workloads. Think 3D rendering, generative AI, content creation, and CAD (computer-aided design) drawings. It is said to significantly outperform older RTX 2000 Ada graphics cards. 

Also: Is this the most promising Chromebook yet? This Acer has specs that almost rival my MacBook

The previous generation ThinkPad P1 runs on such a GPU, so I expect the performance between the older model and this upcoming laptop to be significant.

In terms of design, the P1 is a quintessential ThinkPad (unlike its aforementioned glacial cousin) with the large track pad, red TrackPoint in the middle of the keyboard, durable build, and robust port selection. It will be available later this month, starting at $2,819. 

Lenovo also announced the third-generation ThinkPad P16v at IFA, sharing many similarities with the ThinkPad P1, but in a more substantial 16-inch form. It also has a Blackwell GPU, but boasts a 16-inch 4K OLED touchscreen and the potential to have up to 96GB of RAM. Lenovo cites it as a powerful device for engineers, designers, or animators who want a device with raw power but are value-oriented. 

Also: Seriously, Acer’s new 16-inch featherweight laptop makes the MacBook Air seem heavy

In that sense, the P16v’s starting price of $2,249 situates it as an extremely powerful laptop for the price, but a more utilitarian frame. It’s also an inch thick and weighs 4.6 pounds — bulkier than even Lenovo’s new Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop. I went hands-on with the device earlier this month and it’s definitely one of the chunkiest laptops I’ve handled in a while. 

Finally, we do worry about battery life. Lenovo’s two laptops have a 90Whr battery, which is great, but the Blackwell GPUs may demand a ton of energy. Both the new ThinkPad P1 and P16v will be released later this month. 

The inevitable Windows 10 end-of-life date is just around the corner, as Microsoft is expected to cut support for the operating system on October 14, 2025. However, the software giant has provided multiple ways for users to continue receiving security updates after Windows 10’s imminent death through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

Windows 10 users can sync their PC settings to the cloud via a Microsoft account, redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward points, or pay $30 for extended security updates (ESU), which now supports up to 10 devices.

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Lenovo debuted a new proof of concept laptop with a 14-inch rotating display. 
• It goes from a landscape to portrait orientation by physically rotating the screen. 
• There are some design elements, like the fabric backing, that raise concerns about its longevity.

Earlier this year at CES, we saw Lenovo’s wild “rollable” laptop proof of concept — a computer with a screen that rolls out from under the keyboard to make a 17-inch display. It seemed like a pie-in-the-sky idea, but it was released to market this summer. I recently tried it out and found its vertical display surprisingly useful. In fact, I kind of loved it. 

So when I saw Lenovo’s next proof of concept laptop, I suspended my judgment that it would be something to never make it to production. The new ThinkBook VertiFlex is a 14-inch laptop with a similar concept, but instead of the display unfurling out from under the keyboard, it simply rotates, like turning a tablet from landscape mode to portrait.

Also: I went hands-on with Lenovo’s white ThinkPad X9 at IFA, and it’s the coolest laptop yet

The display on VertiFlex looks deceptively simple. There are no gestures or remote controls here — you simply physically rotate the screen with your hands, and it pivots into position, seamlessly swapping between landscape and portrait mode, with the content on your screen automatically adjusting — just like your smartphone. 

The display is a separate component from the laptop’s chassis, allowing it to rotate while the laptop’s physical frame remains stationary. In portrait mode, it rests against the back of the clamshell. Again, it looks very simple, but behind the scenes, the mechanics of this feature are complex. During a demo, I got a peek at the engineering at work here, and it’s more elaborate than you’d think.

One of the best things about working with the rollable laptop was how convenient it was to work on a vertical display. The orientation allows for a lot more room working with text files, reading websites, and if you’re a programmer, it’s optimal for coding. Even if you’re just working in Google Docs, having the space to see entire pages in one glance feels great.

Also: Lenovo’s new Legion Go 2 could be the ergonomic handheld I’ve been waiting for

The concept behind the VertiFlex takes this but makes it just a little more accessible. Instead of a huge, 17-inch display that plays music to alert everyone around you, the VertiFlex is far more subtle.

Physically, there isn’t much to indicate the laptop’s superpower unless you look carefully at the design. It’s still a thin and light laptop, weighing three pounds and measuring .70 inches thick. Otherwise, it looks like any other ThinkBook.

If you have questions about its design, you’re not alone. For one thing, the proof of concept model I got to test out used a black fabric backing for the texture between the screen and the clamshell, and it’s one of the first design elements to stand out. Fabric, on a laptop? It’s strange.

I always think about longevity with laptops — how it’s going to look in two years, not just as a brand new model — and the felt texture seems like a problematic choice. However, making it all aluminum might not be the play, either. This is a new design, so Lenovo may still very well be figuring out what exactly to put there. 

Also: I tried Lenovo’s $3,000 rollable ThinkBook and can’t go back to regular-sized screens

It should be noted that the VertiFlex is a proof of concept, and there isn’t a price or release date just yet. However, if Lenovo can bring the rollable laptop to market, this should be a more realistic feat. It’s certainly something we could see in the next year, and the price will likely be less than the $3,300 rollable. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the VertiFlex’s progress.

The Xiaomi 16 series is rumored to debut in China next month. While the company has yet to confirm any official details, a new leak hints at the return of a feature last seen on the Xiaomi 11 Ultra.

Leaked images, allegedly of the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max, reveal a redesigned rear camera module that appears to house a secondary display. The images, shared by tipster Ishan Agarwal, suggest Xiaomi may be reviving one of its most distinctive design elements.

The leaked images show a prominent horizontal camera module on the back of the alleged Xiaomi 16 Pro model. The module features two vertically aligned sensors on the left and appears to house a secondary display that reminds us of the Xiaomi 11 Ultra.

Below the module sits a third camera alongside an LED flash. Notably, the overall design also resembles the rumored camera layout of the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro series.

It’s also possible that the Xiaomi 16 is merely adopting the rumored design of the iPhone 17 Pro, and may not actually feature a secondary display. For now, we’ll have to wait until Xiaomi begins its official teasers or makes the formal announcement.

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