It wasn't difficult to find a common thread among the new Windows laptops showcased at CES 2025. Beyond your expected next-generation refreshes, tech's biggest 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 upgrades over fancy software features, companies' selling points had to come from myriad angles. Most embraced affordability, committing to bringing Qualcomm's upcoming entry-level Snapdragon X processor to dozens of budget-friendly machines. (Copilot+ PCs that cost as much as nice Chromebooks? Yes, please.) Some explored new build materials, targeting eco-conscious consumers with chassis made from oyster shells and ultralight "plasma ceramic aluminum." One manufacturer straight-up renamed all of its long-standing laptop lines in the hopes of helping shoppers more easily find the AI PC that best suits their needs — though it doesn't seem to have gone over so well.
And then there's Lenovo, which launched a funky new "rollable" display AI laptop simply because it wanted to see what was possible with OLED technology. It's actually real this time, too.
After countless hours on the Las Vegas Strip and much deliberation, here are our three favorite AI laptops we saw at CES 2025 — plus a few noteworthy honorable mentions.
Best AI laptop overall: Asus Zenbook A14
Made from a magnesium-aluminum alloy called "Ceraluminum" that's sleek, tough, and 100 percent recyclable, Asus' new 14-inch ultraportable weighs as little as 2.18 pounds, depending on the model — making it the world's lightest Copilot+ PC. It features a beautiful OLED display, a gesture-controlled touchpad, and a battery life of up to 32 hours per charge, which is an unrivaled number among the laptops in Mashable's testing database. Asus hasn't explicitly said as much, but all things considered, this is an obvious answer to the Apple MacBook Air. (Those digits in its name even look like the word "AIR.") It's quite competitively priced, too.
Starting Jan. 13, a Snapdragon X Elite configuration will be available at Best Buy and Asus' website for $1,099.99. Look for a $899.99 Snapdragon X variant at Best Buy this March.
Read Mashable's hands-on review of the Asus Zenbook A14.
Most innovative AI laptop: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable
We saw it coming from miles away, but Lenovo's new 14-inch business laptop with a "rollable" OLED display is officially heading to market soon. Users can expand the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6's screen with a simple hand gesture or the touch of a dedicated key; the display slides smoothly up from under its keyboard, adding 50 percent more vertical real estate. Lenovo took two years to work on this design after introducing it as a concept, and it's super sturdy and polished in person. It's a compelling new alternative to dual-display laptops for serious multitaskers, provided 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 hands-on review of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable.
Most unexpected AI laptop: Acer Aspire Vero 16
Acer's latest Aspire Vero 16 brings new meaning to the term "clamshell laptop": Its chassis is partially made from oyster shells harvested in Taiwan, where the company's headquarters is based. The shells are cleaned, crushed, and mixed with a blend of over 70 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, resulting in a durable gray case with a slightly speckled appearance. Under its hood, it runs on Intel's just-announced Core Ultra 200H processors.
The Aspire Vero 16 will start at $799.99 when it goes on sale this coming April.
Read Mashable's hands-on review of the Acer Aspire Vero 16.
Honorable mention: Lots of new GeForce RTX 50 Series gaming laptops
Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 Series announcement was one of the biggest moments of CES 2025, and we got brief looks at several upcoming gaming laptops that will use them. (That includes the refreshed Razer Blade 16, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16, and the HP Omen Max 16, which is pictured above.) We didn't actually get to play anything on them — they just looped a few clips in our demos — so we don't have much to say about them right now except that they all look really flashy and expensive. However, we look forward to reviewing a slew of them once they start trickling out in March. Next-gen PC gaming is nearly upon us.
Honorable mention: Asus Adol 14 Air
Asus dedicated a small corner of its CES showcase to its scented notebook made in partnership with fashion designer Anna Sui, which has a subtle, swappable fragrance diffuser built into the center of its lid. It's gimmicky, sure, but also extremely adorable. The notebook is available in four pastel finishes, including a purple one with butterfly accents and a matching quilted travel case. It's only available in China right now, but wider availability could be imminent. Put me down for one, please.
