Best laptops and PC concepts Lenovo announced at MWC 2026 that surprised our editors

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

The Mobile World Congress (or MWC 2026, for short) is well underway in Barcelona. Tech companies from across the globe have come together to showcase upcoming products and bold new ideas in mobile computing. Lenovo returned to the event this year with a wide range of new hardware, spanning practical upgrades to older models and more experimental PCs.

Also: Best of MWC 2026: We found the biggest news from Lenovo, Xiaomi, Honor, more

Over a dozen unique devices were showcased at MWC 2026, but five in particular stood out to me as serious innovators in the field. They're a mix of refined mainline models with new concepts that could hint at where Lenovo may be headed next. And just to be clear, they aren't ranked in any particular order.

First is one of the most intriguing conceptual devices: the ThinkBook Modular AI PC Concept. The name may be a mouthful, but its modular form factor is notable. In its base configuration, it functions as a Windows 11 laptop with a Bluetooth keyboard and double-sided monitor. 

What's unique is that the display can be detached and replace the keyboard, instantly transforming the tablet into a 14-inch double-screen clamshell. Alternatively, it can serves as a secondary monitor, propped up next to the laptop with a built-in kickstand. I

Also: TCL showed me its Nxtpaper AMOLED phone at MWC, and my eyes couldn't believe it

t's a clever way to have a robust workstation without carrying multiple devices, but it's still unknown whether or not this modular system will ever go to market, but it's certainly likely, especially since previous executions like the ThinkBook Rollable and ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition already received full commitment from Lenovo. 

Coming later this year is the ThinkPad 13 Detachable, a tablet with a removable keyboard. Based on the preliminary details, this is shaping up to be a serious productivity machine. It's powered by an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor and supports up to 64GB of memory. A configuration like this positions the device as a work-centric computer capable of tackling demanding tasks. 

Also: The 5 most innovative Lenovo laptops at CES 2026 - including multiple rollables

It comes with a 13-inch, 2.8K touchscreen that covers the entire sRGB color gamut for vibrant imagery, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of up to 500 nits. Connectivity is handled by a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, opening the door to pro-level peripherals.

Detachable keyboards are often the weak link in devices like this, usually feeling cramped and flimsy. Lenovo appears to be addressing that concern by having its keyboard house full-size keys and 1.5mm of key travel to ensure comfort. The ThinkPad 13 Detachable is expected to launch in Q3 2026 with prices starting at $2,000.

I'm a big gamer, so I'm always looking for new ways to enjoy my favorite hobby. It's for that reason that the Legion Go Fold Concept immediately caught my attention. It builds on the Legion Go, but introduces a foldable POLED touchscreen that expands from 7.7 inches to 11.6 inches. It aims to deliver something close to a whole at-home gaming rig in a portable form factor. Just like the Legion Go, the side controllers are detachable, and you can use the right-side peripheral as a computer mouse.

Also: Is Lenovo's new SteamOS handheld worth the hype? I tested it, here's my verdict

The handheld supports multiple usage modes, such as Vertical Split Screen, which lets you game on one half of the display while playing a walkthrough on the other. There's also Expanded Desktop Mode. This enables you to pair a wireless keyboard so you can browse and even get some light work done. Under the hood, the Lenovo Go Fold runs on an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor with up to 32GB of RAM.

There's no guarantee this concept will come to fruition. I hope it does, because this is one of the most exciting portable gaming devices I've seen in a while.

The Lenovo Idea Tab Gen 2 is more of a Windows 11 tablet than a proper laptop. However, it does have the potential to replace traditional laptops. Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, the device has the potential to deliver strong multitasking performance.

Also: I tried Honor's ultra-thin foldable phone at MWC 2026, and it's almost too powerful

It features a 13-inch, 3.5K PureSight Pro screen with Dolby Vision support for vibrant visuals. This display is paired with a quad-speaker system fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos to deliver immersive audio. Plus, at just 6.2mm thick and roughly 1.3 pounds, it's an easy all-day carry.

The Idea Tab Gen 2 is set to launch later this July with prices starting at $419.

Rounding out the list is the upcoming Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition. Like the Idea Tab Gen 2, it caters to a specific audience. Instead of students, this laptop is primarily meant for creatives. Lenovo's device boasts a 2.8K PureSight Pro OLED touchscreen covering multiple color spaces (DCI-P3, Adobe RGB, and sRGB) to deliver highly accurate, stunning visuals that artists will love. It comes with the Yoga Pen Gen 2, which supports AES 2.0 for improved precision and lower latency when drawing.

Also: One of the lightest Lenovo ThinkPads I've tested has no business lasting this long per charge

One of the laptop's standout features is called Canvas Mode. By attaching the Yoga Pen case to a magnetic spot on the back of the screen, you elevate the display, creating a more ergonomic angle for drawing and writing. Other notable features include an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor and a slim form factor weighing just under three pounds.

Lenovo's Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition will launch in May 2026. Prices start at $1,949.