Lenovo just showed me the future of laptops at MWC 2026 — and it didn't mention AI once | Daily Reports Online

Lenovo is developing quite the reputation for showing off innovative (and sometimes strange) product concepts at big tech events, and at MWC 2026 it’s continuing that tradition.

I’ve just been shown its latest concepts at the huge tech event currently taking place in Barcelona, Spain, and was left impressed by not just what was on show, but also what wasn’t even mentioned.

Product concepts are essentially prototypes that show off cool new ideas to give us an idea of what future gadgets could look and perform like, so while you can’t go out and buy the things Lenovo showed me right now, it’s likely that a lot of the tech will some day make its way into real products — and I just hope we don’t have to wait too long.

Google’s Project Ara, were the buzz of Barcelona, and here I am being shown a modular laptop… and I’m impressed.

At first glance, the ThinkBook Modular AI PC Concept looks like a fairly standard laptop, except it has two screens — one on the front, and one on the back. The rear screen can be easily removed (it’s held there via a magnetic connector) and can be used as a portable second screen (attached via cable).

Press shots of Lenovo's concept PCs — (Image credit: Lenovo)

The keyboard can also be removed, and you can swap it with the second screen for a more ‘traditional’ dual-screen laptop — and the keyboard can be used while detached thanks to its Bluetooth connection.

Beneath, where the keyboard usually sits, are two modular I/O ports (one on each side of the laptop). These can be swapped out, allowing the user to switch between USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI ports. It’s a nice little touch that makes this concept feel far more flexible and convenient.

While what Lenovo showed me was just a prototype, it was impressively slick, with all the pieces slotting into place securely, which makes me hopeful that we could see modular laptops soon.

Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept

(Image credit: Lenovo)

Here’s another blast from the past: 3D. Remember when tech companies decided that 3D was the next big thing and crammed it into all kinds of devices, including TVs and laptops?

I certainly do. And, while I was pleased to see the back of that tech trend several years ago, Lenovo could bring it back with the Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept.

Now, before you begin rolling your eyes, Lenovo is at least not pitching the return of 3D to casual users — instead, it’s targetting makers, 3D artists and creators.

The Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept is a dual-screen laptop, with the main screen capable of glasses-free 3D. Using eye-tracking tech in the webcam, the Yoga Book Pro 3D Concept adjusts the image so you get a clear 3D experience from where you’re sat. Meanwhile, the bottom screen is a bright and vibrant touchscreen that you can use like a graphics tablet to edit art, then view your creations on the 3D screen.

Using the webcam, you can also manipulate objects on the 3D screen by making gestures in the air. By pinching my fingers on both hands and slowly moving them apart, I was able to zoom in on a 3D object, and by slightly rotating my hands while I was doing that, I could rotate the object on screen.

It felt responsive and natural (even in the less-than-perfect environment of a busy show floor), and I can definitely see the appeal for product designers who want to see what their designs could end up looking like. It’s not for me, but at least Lenovo isn’t trying to tell me that it is.

Shots of Lenovo's concept laptops at MWC 2026

Asus ROG Ally X, so it was great to see Lenovo experiment with the handheld form factor in a similar way it’s been pushing boundries with laptop designs.

The Legion Go Fold Concept is a large 7.7-inch gaming tablet that you can attach two halves of a controller to either side of the screen (like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Lenovo Legion Go).

The screen can be unfolded to a bigger 11.6-inch display, and you can continue to use it as a gaming handheld, now with a much bigger screen in horizontal ‘Horizon’ mode. Or, if you prefer, you can rotate the screen vertically, reconnect the controllers and use the screen in split-screen mode, where your game is on one half, leaving the other half to display apps or websites (such as game guides).

While this is the concept that feels the furthest away from being released (Lenovo still needs to work out how to turn off half the screen when it’s folded backwards, and I’m concerned about how scratched the rear screen could become), I love the fact that Lenovo is already experimenting with this relatively new device category.

AI MIA

One thing that struck me whilst Lenovo was talking me through the concepts was the absence of AI.

While AI was included in some of the product names, Lenovo didn’t bother to mention artificial intelligence, which came as a pleasant surprise as MWC 2026 (like most recent tech events) is absolutely chock full of companies pushing AI in the products — a lot like how they tried to make 3D a thing years ago.

Many companies at this year’s event are touting AI as the future of mobiles and computing, but are failing to really show us why they think AI is the future (outside of using it as a glorified search engine or virtual assistant).

In contrast, Lenovo’s vision of the future seemed far more interested in the physical hardware itself, and that’s a far more interesting idea. It certainly made me more excited for the future of laptops than any amount of generative AI slop would.

TechRadar is on the show floor for this year’s MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain, and we’ll be covering the latest news from some of the biggest names in mobile, computing, fitness and more.

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