Laptops

Lenovo launches ThinkPad X1 Nano, pre-order for ThinkPad X1 Fold

Two ThinkPads that deserve your attention

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If the Yoga lineup is any indication, it’s that Lenovo has never been shy about experimenting with form factors. They doubled up on that when they unveiled the ThinkPad X1 Fold at CES 2020. Now, they’re following it up with the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

Here’s a refresher on the ThinkPad X1 Fold in case you forgot what it was.

So yeah, it’s a PC but not exactly. Lenovo is calling it a new device category. It starts at US$ 2,499 and is now available for pre-order.

Update as of 12/17/2020: The ThinkPad X1 Fold with 8 th Gen Intel Core i5, 256GB SSD, and Windows 10 Pro is now available in the Philippines on a by-order basis through Lenovo’s authorized retail partners at PhP 208,500.

ThinkPad X1 Nano

The ThinkPad X1 Nano is being billed as the lightest ThinkPad ever. At less than 1kg, it’s hard to argue against that claim. It promises a complete laptop package all while being ultra freaking light.

It comes with up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processors and Intel Iris X graphics. That combo promises 20% faster office productivity and over 2x faster gaming plus streaming.

It has Thunderbolt 4 for fast, single cable connection to power, monitors, storage, as well as other external devices.

It’s the first ThinkPad to feature an updated suite of AI and biometric ThinkShield security features. These include new voice recognition and human presence detection.

It has a 13-inch Dolby Vision 2K display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. It has 100% sRGB for clarity and color accuracy. It also comes in touch display options.

This notebook also has four speakers with Dolby Atmos support for immersive sound. It also has four 360-degree microphones to ensure you are loud and clear during virtual meetings.

The ThinkPad X1 Nano starts at US$ 1,399. It is expected to be available Q4 of 2020.

Computex 2026

The new NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops are AI PCs on steroids

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“Useful AI has arrived,” NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang proclaimed in his monumental keynote speech to kick off COMPUTEX 2026, essentially admitting to the state of AI prior to today. But don’t let the past mess with how you view the present. AI today, according to the graphics-turned-AI company, will now serve everyday users, rather than procuring abstract and intangible benefits. For us normal people, it all starts with the new RTX Spark.

Rarely does a new product claim to reinvent the entire industry. Confident in its own abilities, that’s just what the RTX Spark wants to do. But what is it exactly?

Think of it like Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs but on AI-powered steroids. NVIDIA wants to bring the power of a supercomputer into the hands of regular consumers, just like how the personal computer (PC) brought gigantic computers to the comfort of everyone’s homes.

Co-engineered with Microsoft, RTX Spark will run autonomous AI agents the entire day. The agent is tied to you and your intent but will orchestrate all your devices under one roof.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The new series will leverage a Blackwell RTX GPU and a 20-core Grace CPU from MediaTek. It can also support up to 128GB of unified memory, delivering several of the most powerful (and most expensive) PCs available to consumers today. With the capabilities comparable to an RTX 5070, the series can supposedly play modern games with ease.

Inside, it will come with CUDA, the trove of information that powers AI technology today. Finally, despite how slim NVIDIA promises the series will be, the RTX Spark should come with a battery that lasts the entire day.

The first NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops will launch later this fall with six premium laptops for various brands. This, along with the 30 models launching soon after, will include Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. No word yet on how much these will cost, though.

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Laptops

Acer unveils Swift Air 14 and Swift Spin 14 AI with Intel’s latest processors

Thin, light, AI-powered laptops

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Acer Swift Air 14

Acer has expanded its Swift laptop lineup with the launch of the new Swift Air 14 and Swift Spin 14 AI. The new Windows 11 laptops combine slim designs, dedicated AI hardware, and long battery life for users who want productivity on the go.

Swift Air 14 focuses on portability

Leading the announcement is the new Swift Air 14. Powered by Intel Core Series 3 processors, the laptop delivers up to 40 platform TOPS and up to 17 TOPS from its dedicated NPU for AI workloads. Acer says users can expect up to 19 hours of battery life, with fast charging capable of reaching 50 percent in around 30 minutes.

The Swift Air 14 weighs just 1.25kg and measures as thin as 12.9mm. Its all-aluminum chassis comes in Sage Green, Frost Blue, Blossom Pink, and Lilac Purple. A 180-degree hinge allows the laptop to lie flat when collaborating or sharing content.

For visuals, Acer equips the laptop with a 14-inch WUXGA display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and 100 percent sRGB color coverage. Quad speakers with DTS:X Ultra complete the entertainment package.

The Swift Air 14 also includes a 1080p IR webcam with a privacy shutter, Windows Hello facial recognition, Acer PurifiedVoice noise cancellation, Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a USB-A port.

Swift Spin 14 AI adds convertible flexibility

Acer also introduced the Swift Spin 14 AI. The new convertible features a 360-degree hinge that lets users switch between laptop, presentation, display, and tablet modes.

Inside is up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor. The system delivers up to 50 TOPS from its dedicated NPU and up to 100 platform TOPS overall. Acer claims battery life can reach up to 26 hours on a single charge.

The Swift Spin 14 AI features a 14-inch WUXGA IPS touch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also supports the optional Acer Active Stylus with Wacom AES 2.0 technology. The stylus supports shading and 4,096 pressure levels, making it useful for drawing, note-taking, and document signing.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, dual USB-A ports, and HDMI 2.1. Security features include a 5MP IR camera, fingerprint reader, human presence detection, and Acer User Sensing technology.

Acer brings AI features to both laptops

Both devices include a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to Microsoft’s AI assistant. Acer also bundles its own AI-powered software suite, including AcerSense and Acer Intelligence Space.

The suite includes tools such as Acer QR Capture, Acer AI Image Generator, and Acer Video Speed Controller. Acer says these features are designed to improve productivity, creativity, and day-to-day usability.

Acer has not yet announced local pricing or availability. The company says details will vary by market.

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Laptops

MSI announces new Raider, Crosshair gaming laptops

Redesigned for better power

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MSI has unveiled its latest generation of high-performance gaming laptops, introducing comprehensive updates to the Raider, Crosshair, and Cyborg series.

The updated product lines include redesigns, as well as up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs.

MSI Raider 16 HX: Flagship power

The premium tier is led by the redesigned MSI Raider 16 HX, which establishes a maximum total power delivery threshold of up to 300W of combined CPU and GPU output via MSI OverBoost technology.

This extreme performance is made possible by a newly designed Cooler Boost Trinity with Intra Flow thermal system. With up to three fans, six heat pipes, and an exclusive five-exhaust vent design, the laptop delivers exceptional cooling performance while keeping noise below 50 dBA.

It has a 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS display with up to 240Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.

With two DDR5 memory slots, it can support up to 128GB of RAM, alongside dual M.2 slots for ample storage.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX: Mainstream performance realignment

Meanwhile, the mid-tier MSI Crosshair 16 HX receives a structural redesign that slims down the overall chassis depth while boosting overall thermal ceiling performance by 30W over the prior model.

It comes with a similar Cooler Boost thermal solution and quad-vent exhaust, while delivering up to 200W total system power.

Gamers can fully tap into that performance with a QHD+ 240Hz display. Connectivity gets an upgrade too, as the new I/O layout features three USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and repositioned HDMI and RJ-45 LAN ports.

The look is completed by the iconic RGB Crosshair aesthetic, with a more dynamic RGB backlit keyboard.

MSI Cyborg 15 Max: Major upgrades in performance, display

Lastly, the newly redesigned MSI Cyborg 15 series arrives with major upgrades. Particularly, the entry-level Cyborg 15 Max marks a substantial performance update for the budget tier.

It now has up to a 140W total system power, thanks to an Intel Core 200H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 GPU. This sets a new benchmark in the entry-level gaming segment.

The performance is likewise powered by a Cooler Boost thermal system. Overall, the Cyborg 15 Max achieves an impressive 122% increase in TGP.

The entire series is equipped with an FHD 144Hz display with 100% sRGB color gamut. Even connectivity is upgraded, with three USB-A ports and one USB-C port.

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