Lenovo's newly released ultra-thin Yoga Air 14s 2023 Ryzen Edition laptop packs an exclusively tuned variant from AMD's 7040 "Phoenix" APU series—we are seeing a whole bunch of these mobile chipsets finally arriving inside portable computer hardware and in handheld games systems (Ryzen Z1 series), following several delays earlier in the year. AMD and Lenovo have partnered up on a special Ryzen 7 7840S eight-core APU, with a custom 30 W TDP profile—likely implemented to synergize with the Yoga Air's thin and lightweight design. Folks in the west have started to enjoy playing around with Ryzen 7 7840HS-equipped laptops, this particular APU has a 45 W TDP rating—also shared by China-market specific 7840H variants.

The MyDrivers review team has been taking Lenovo's Yoga Air 14s 2023 Ryzen Edition for a spin—PC Mark results suggest 10 to 11 hours of normal operation on battery, while lighter office tasking bumps that up to 14 hours. A snazzy 14.5-inch OLED screen with 10-touch support seemed to be a highlighted feature on this fancy slimline laptop. A 5% overall difference in performance (across a number of benchmark suites) was noted by the reviewer—a flagship Ryzen 9 7940HS (45 W) APU narrowly beat its less greedy 30 W sibling. The Yoga Air was judged to offer "top tier" performance that competes with a larger class of notebook (15.6-inch). The reviewer was suitably impressed by Lenovo's chassis design: "To be honest, there are very few thin and light notebooks on the market priced at 8,000 yuan (~$1095) that can surpass Yoga Air 14s 2023 Ryzen Edition in terms of appearance and craftsmanship."

Getac has today announced the launch of its next generation S410 semi-rugged laptop, which delivers powerful processing and graphics performance in a sustainable new design, without compromising on rugged reliability. The result is an incredibly versatile device that improves efficiency in the field while giving peace of mind to users in work environments where accidental knocks, bumps and drops can frequently occur.

Outstanding processing power
The next generation S410 is the first Getac device to feature an Intel Core 13th generation i5/i7 processor as standard, which delivers remarkable computing performance and rapid responsiveness to users. Integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics ensure a rich visual experience, while an optional dedicated GPS chip offers significantly improved location accuracy compared to previous generations. When it comes to connectivity, the next generation S410 includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 as standard, with optional 4G LTE and/or 5G Sub-6 with integrated GPS, keeping users connected in even remote locations.

GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer hardware brand, featured its AORUS 17X laptop in two influential AI-content-focused Youtubers by Hugh Hou and MDMZ. Both Youtubers took the new AORUS 17X laptop to the AI image and AI video generation test and found the great potential of how the laptops benefit their workflow. The AORUS 17X laptop is powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs to unlock new horizons for creativity and become the go-to choice for art and tech enthusiasts.

Hugh Hou: Unleashing the Power of AI Arts with the AORUS 17X Laptop
Hugh Hou's journey into AI arts, powered by Stable Diffusion XL, garnered viral success. The AORUS 17X laptop emerged as a game-changer with up to 16G of VRAM, enabling local AI photo and video generation without bearing hefty cloud-rendering costs. It empowers creators and outperforms competitors in AI-assisted tasks and enhances AI artistry.

ASUS, a global technology leader, today announced an epic collaboration with A BATHING APE (BAPE), the renowned Japanese street-style fashion brand. The collaboration showcases the iconic streetwear brand's trademark design style etched directly into the high-performance laptop's rugged, street-savvy metallic lid, palm rest and touchpad. The unique BAPE camo design also adorns an exclusive bundle of matching accessories.

ASUS has teamed up with A BATHING APE to bring users the first-ever BAPE laptop bundle: the Vivobook S 15 OLED BAPE Edition. Vivobook's energetic and vibrant style vibes perfectly with the ostentatious BAPE aesthetic. With a shared passion for creativity, diversity and unwavering authenticity, this collaboration is a seamless combination of bold street fashion and pioneering tech.

TrendForce has predicted a noticeable recovery in the global notebook market for 2Q23. Shipments are projected to hit 40.45 million units—a QoQ increase of 15.7%. This marks a pivotal turnaround after six consecutive quarters of decline. However, despite this growth, shipments are still down by 11.6% YoY. TrendForce expects this upward trend to persist into the third quarter, estimating global notebook shipments to reach 43.08 million units, albeit at a decelerated growth rate of 6.5%.

Notebook brands were primarily focused on reducing excess terminal inventory in 1Q23, which led to slower procurement and subsequently impacted ODM sell-in sales. However, as Q2 unfolds and inventory levels of finished products and components start to stabilize, supply chain pressures should ease, triggering a wave of restocking demand. This trend is expected to extend into Q3—a season typically characterized by robust sales due to back-to-school demand and shopping promotions, further stimulating inventory demand and fostering further growth in global notebook shipments.

ASUS today announced BR1402 series, the world's first 2-in-1 ruggedized 14-inch laptops aimed at K-12 education—and designed for the need of modern students and hybrid learning. Available in both traditional clamshell form (BR1402C) and a convertible design that flips 360° to become a versatile multitouch tablet (BR1402F), the all-new BR1402-series laptops are built to military-grade standards and packed with clever protective features to help students through their learning journey.

BR1402 series are also loaded with essentials for the demands of hybrid study, enabling education to flow seamlessly from the classroom into the home and beyond. To empower a full day's study, these laptops include up to 10-hour battery life, full-function USB-C, up to WiFi 6 for speedy connectivity and a modular design to ensure easy maintenance and upgrades.

Today, after nearly three years of development, Sightful unveiled Spacetop : the World's First Augmented Reality (AR) Laptop. Created by a team of more than 60 spatial computing experts, including veterans from Apple, Microsoft, and Magic Leap, Spacetop represents the next generation in personal computing and the first application of Augmented Reality that seamlessly fits into users' daily lives. With customized hardware and a proprietary spatial environment, Spacetop leverages AR to remove the physical constraints of standard laptops. The result is a first-of-its-kind product that allows users to carry with them a massive, private, virtual workspace designed and customized by the user to be their most creative self, no matter where they are—all in a familiar laptop form factor.

"Two worlds sit at a crossroads: Laptops are the centerpiece of our daily working lives, but the technology has not evolved with the modern, work from anywhere, privacy matters, 'road warrior' mentality. Meanwhile, Augmented Reality is full of potential and promise, but is yet to find its daily use case," said Tamir Berliner, CEO and co-founder of Sightful. "We are at the perfect moment for a significant paradigm shift in a device we all know and love, and Spacetop Early Access is the first step in that journey."

XPG, a fast-growing provider of systems, components, and peripherals for Gamers, Esports Pros, and Tech Enthusiasts, today announced its most powerful laptop to date, the XENIA 15G Gaming Laptop. This impressive laptop was designed for gamers and tech enthusiasts seeking the perfect balance between performance and value. XPG XENIA 15G comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H processor, up to a GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU, coupled with a combination of hand-picked ADATA DDR5 memory and a PCIe Gen 4 LEGEND SSD, to deliver extreme gaming experiences.

XENIA 15G takes advantage of the latest generation improvements in components on the market. At its foundation, it features a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H processor with 14 cores (6 performance cores boosting up to 5 GHz, and 8 efficient cores for power saving). On the Graphics front, XENIA 15G sports an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series laptop GPU based on NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture, a leap in computing performance with AI-powered DLSS 3, so you can enjoy higher framerates even in lifelike virtual worlds with demanding real-time ray tracing requirements.

TrendForce research reveals that global notebook shipments reached 33.9 million units in 1Q23—a 13% QoQ and 39% YoY decline. This drop is primarily attributed to the continued impact of economic headwinds on consumer market confidence, which has hindered notebook channels as they destock. As a result, notebook brands have reduced ODM orders in an attempt to regulate inventory pressure, with this pressure on notebooks and their components expecting to be eased in 2Q23 as channels increase demand MoM. TrendForce predicts this will drive 2Q23 notebook shipments to 37.63 million units, an 11% QoQ increase but a 17.7% YoY decline.

Business markets face pressure, demand for niche products gradually growing
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate a quarter of a percentage point, from 4.75% to 5%—the highest it's been since the eve of the 2007 financial crisis—in response to weak market demand and a continuous decline in corporate revenue. In the face of high financing and borrowing costs, businesses are strictly controlling financial expenditures, delaying procurement plans, and reducing manpower, all of which, impact the shipment volume of commercial models.

Dynabook Americas, Inc., formerly Toshiba PC Company, has announced that it has refreshed its ultralight Portégé X40L-K and performance-rich 14-inch Tecra A40-K and 15-inch Tecra A50-K laptops to include the new hybrid-architecture 13th Gen Intel Core P-Series 28 W processors. All three laptops also include Windows 11 Pro standard for an enhanced productivity and intuitive computing experience.

"Next generation computing solutions capable of exceeding the demands of modern businesses and individuals is vital to Dynabook's success," said James Robbins, general manager, Dynabook Americas, Inc. "The addition of the 13th Gen Intel Core processors with our own mobile innovations allows Dynabook to deliver uncompromising, premium mobile computing solutions that seamlessly integrate into any business or learning environment. The immense power these three new laptops deliver demonstrates Dynabook's unrelenting commitment to producing the market's best professional-grade computing solutions."

MSI, a world-leading laptop brand, has hold their brand new laptop virtual event MSIology: The Leap to Singularity today. Featuring the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs and up to 13th Gen Intel Core HX series processors which is now available for pre-order and early bird rewards.

MSI strives for perfection and a premium experience in the laptop lineup which comes with innovative technology breakthroughs, extremely powerful performance and aesthetic brand new design. "We have been leading the trends for high-end laptops, and it continues!" Said MSI Notebook Worldwide Sales & Marketing Director, Derek Chen.

Acer today launched four new Chromebooks to meet the needs of students, teachers and administrators, including its first Acer Chromebook Vero model designed specifically for the education market. These new models provide the latest in durability, performance, and features, making them a powerful tool for helping educators deliver better learning outcomes.

"As a leading provider of Chromebooks for the K12 education market, Acer knows what students and teachers need to keep the focus on learning - and these new Acer Chromebooks deliver what's needed and more," said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. "Our new Chromebooks provide advances in all the areas that have helped establish them as an essential tool for learning: student-focused durability features, reliable performance and advanced connectivity options to support school technology initiatives."

At CES, LG announced its new Gram Style notebooks with OLED displays and news out of Korea now suggests that the 14 and 16-inch notebooks will sport OLED displays from LG's main competitor, Samsung. This might not be entirely surprising, as there's a limited number of laptop sized OLED panel manufacturers and it seems like LG would rather go with a local, Korean option, rather than using a Japanese or Chinese panel in its upcoming notebooks.

The report by the Elec suggests that the LG Gram Style notebooks will use Samsung's rigid OLED panels based on a standard glass substrate. This is also the type of panel that most other notebook manufacturers are using today, as it's the most cost effective type of OLED panels, regardless of manufacturer. LG Display doesn't currently manufacture this type of OLED panels, even though it apparently could do so, using its flexible OLED production lines, albeit at a higher cost. The irony in the situation is still hard to miss though, as the two companies are fierce competitors in many of their core businesses.

Due to the various major events that affected the global economy and politics, the overall demand for consumer electronics made a sharp downward turn in 2022, and global shipments of notebook (laptop) computers began to fall over the quarters. TrendForce's latest analysis finds that global shipments of notebook computers (from ODMs) reached just around 186 million units for 2022, showing a YoY drop of 24.5%. As for 2023, the outlook on the performance of the notebook computer market remains uncertain at this moment. TrendForce expects the YoY decline to moderate to about 7.8%, but shipments are projected to total only 171 million units.

Because market demand was anemic in 4Q22, promotional activities related to the traditional year-end peak season did not generate a lot of sales momentum. Looking at regional markets, notebook brands (PC OEMs) slashed prices in the US and China, but their sales results still did not meet expectations. This development was mainly attributed to factors such as high inflation suppressing consumers' disposable income. Since the sales results for 4Q22 were lackluster, efforts to get rid of the existing stockpile of whole devices might continue through 2Q23. Furthermore, order placements from channels are going to be much more restrained.

The AORUS brand of GIGABYTE originated with gaming notebooks. At the 2023 International CES, AORUS presented a large number of gaming notebooks covering various market-segments, powered by the latest-generation 13th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" mobile processors, and GeForce RTX 40-series "Ada" Laptop GPUs. The AORUS 17X (17-inch) and AORUS 15X (15-inch) are the company's key performance gaming notebooks. Both come with 1440p Fast IPS 240 Hz displays, and rock an Intel Core i7-13700HX 8P+8E processor. The company didn't specify the GPU model in use, but we expect options to range from the RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, all the way up to the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU. 16 GB dual-channel DDR5-4800 memory, and 1 TB Gen 4 NVMe SSDs make for the rest of the specs.

GIGABYTE has a special treat for creators on the move, with the AERO 16 OLED (16-inch) and AERO 14 OLED (14-inch). As their names suggest, they feature OLED displays. These come with 16:10 aspect-ratio displays. The 14-inch model rocks a 2560 x 1600 pixels resolution, and the 16-inch one does 3840 x 2400 pixels. Both displays are Samsung AMOLED sourced, and Pantone validated for a very wide color gamut. The 14-inch model is powered by a Core i7-13700HX 8P+8E processor and 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory; while the 16-inch model rocks a Core i9-13900H 6P+8E processor with 32 GB of DDR5-4800 memory. Both come with a variety of RTX 40-series Laptop GPU options, and 1 TB of Gen 4 NVMe storage.

Acer today debuts the first models in its new Acer Swift Go line, adding to the award-winning Swift family of notebooks designed for today's mobile professionals, creators, and students. In addition, the new Acer Swift X 14 and Acer Swift 14 were launched with new modern designs, the latest performance technologies, and all the tools to help users stay productive and connected on the go. The Swift Go, Swift X 14 and Swift 14 models highlight new ultraportable designs that are incredibly sleek and stylish. Incorporating well-considered features such as angular edges and structural lines result in a more refined look for these notebooks, appealing to highly mobile customers seeking a more confident look and feel.

The Acer Swift laptop line has also been a recipient of numerous accolades in recent years, with the Swift Edge being named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards honoree. "Our new Swift laptops kick off 2023 with all-new designs that are elevated, modern, and offer a striking visual appeal," said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer. "The new Swift laptops do not only look good but house an impressive array of the latest technologies and features including OLED and high-resolution displays, long-lasting batteries and new 13th Gen Intel Coreprocessors that deliver first-class performance."

Acer today announced refreshed models of its Aspire all-in-ones and laptops, designed to support families' day-to-day productivity and entertainment needs, while adding a touch of style to the home environment. The sleek Acer Aspire S all-in-one PCs come in both 27-inch and 32-inch models and are equipped with up to the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors and Windows 11 to empower a seamless computing experience. Providing efficiency and reliability for multi-tasking users working from home, the Aspire 5 Series laptops come with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, while the lightweight Aspire 3 Series notebooks deliver ready-to-go performance.

Acer also introduced the newest member of its smart speaker family with the Acer Halo Swing Smart Speaker with Google Assistant, DTS Sound and features a LED dot display, bringing users quality audio and dazzling lights everywhere they go.

Peratech, a tactile-sensing HMI company, and Innovobot Labs, an R&D and innovation design house, will unveil the new FusionPad Haptic Force-Enhanced Trackpad at CES in Las Vegas, January 5-8. FusionPad will greatly enhance the notebook user experience. Instead of just one click, it delivers a broad range of user interactions, including multiple clicks to expand functionality and fast, accurate haptic feedback to optimize control. It also eliminates false touch while typing.

FusionPad is thinner, allowing for a bigger battery and greater air flow to cool processors and improve overall performance. It is integration-ready and compatible with existing product engineering tools. It is also process and technology ready for AVL-approved supply chains.

TrendForce's latest research finds that shipments of display panels used in notebook computers (NB panels) came to 13.5 million pieces (pcs) in this October, showing a MoM drop of 16.1% and a YoY drop of 45.0%. Based on TrendForce's tracking of NB panel shipments, this figure is a 10-year low for the month of October. Moving into 4Q22, TrendForce expects NB panel shipments to remain in a slump because of uncertainties in the global economy and inventory adjustments that are taking place across the entire supply chain. Fourth-quarter shipment figure is now estimated around 41.7 million pcs, reflecting a QoQ drop of 10.8% and a YoY drop of 45.9%.

TrendForce points out that from a historical perspective, this latest decline in NB panel shipments is part of the wider, multi-year cycle for global manufacturing. The cycle first begins with strong demand causing shortages and price hikes. Then, supply outpaces demand, thus leading to falling prices and inventory corrections. Looking back to 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height, the surging demand for notebook computers (NBs) caused a panel shortage. Then, even as more panel supply was released, NB brands continued to stock up due to worries about potential shortages of the key components. They allowed their panel inventories to keep climbing. Fast-forward to the recent period, the pandemic has eased, so the supply situation has improved as well. Furthermore, the demand and windfall associated with the effects of the pandemic have also subsided. What follows now is a series of large inventory corrections in the panel market, the kind of which is rarely seen on record in terms of the overall scale.

According to TrendForce, global notebook shipments in 4Q22 are likely to decline to 42.9 million units, down 7.2% QoQ and 32.3% YoY, lower than the same period before the pandemic. In addition, market demand is affected by negative factors such as inventory, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and rising inflation, leading to a downward revision of notebook market shipments in 2022 to 189 million units, a 23% decline YoY, with the proportion of shipments in the first and second half of the year at 53:47, the first top-heavy scenario in the past ten years.

According to research, the structural imbalance between notebook market supply and demand remains unresolved at present, leading this year's notebook shipments to present a downward movement trend quarter by quarter. TrendForce believes, after current inventory pressure gradually returns to a healthy level, Chromebooks may be the first wave of products that will see a recovery in demand by 2Q23 and traditional cyclical growth momentum is expected to return to the market, with shipments set to rebound slightly from 14.44 million in 2022 to 16.2 million units.

Acer today debuts its first Chromebook optimized for Cloud gaming - the Acer Chromebook 516 GE. With it, customers can enjoy a top-tier gaming experience with instant access to full PC and console games powered by the cloud. The new Acer Chromebook 516 GE is powered by the latest technology and features that matter most to gamers - 12th Gen Intel Core processors, a fast 120 Hz display, an RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting technology, advanced DTS audio, and most importantly, support for leading cloud gaming platforms including the highest performance tier of NVIDIA's GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), and Amazon Luna.

"The Acer Chromebook 516 GE sets the stage for a new era of Chromebooks with the focus squarely on gaming; it combines the ideal collection of gaming hardware, game-streaming support for NVIDIA GeForce NOW's top tier and easy access to popular game titles from the leading cloud gaming platforms," said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. "Chromebooks have secured their position as an indispensable tool for education, work, entertainment and personal productivity, so now it's time to have more fun."

OMNIVISION, a leading global developer of semiconductor solutions, including advanced digital imaging, analog, and touch & display technology, today announced the OV08X, the industry's only 9.2 megapixel (MP) CMOS image sensor with pixel size at 0.7-micron, enabling 4K resolution in a 1/5.7-inch optical format. The OV08X can be used in the most stringent 4 mm y-dimension module laptops with 16:10 (1920x1200) aspect ratio monitors. It is the first image sensor for the laptop market to integrate a four-cell color filter array and on-chip hardware remosaic, providing high-quality, 9.2 MP Bayer output in real time.

"Users no longer have to rely on their external webcams for high-quality video calls. OMNIVISION's OV08X image sensor allows high-end and flagship notebook designers to create the thinnest possible devices with high-resolution 4K cameras," said Akeem Chen, product marketing manager, OMNIVISION. "We have also addressed many work- and learn-from-home user needs with the new OV08X, including autoframing, human presence detection, and high dynamic range (HDR) image capture."

OFF Global, the French startup that holds the international license to create Nokia branded laptops, today announces two new models, Nokia PureBook Fold and Nokia PureBook Lite ahead of IFA.

Bringing more choice and flexibility in a new sleek and stylish design, the Nokia PureBook Fold packs productivity and portability into a 2-in-1 experience. Whether in tablet or laptop mode, it offers a range of uses specifically designed for students or teens on the go, in the classroom or at home. The Nokia PureBook Lite is a sleek all-rounder with key features for the whole family to breeze through daily tasks or play; from streaming, surfing to homework, it's also available in a bold range of colors.

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), the global leading motherboard, Mini-PCs, Notebooks, mobile device, and smart city solutions provider, is proud to present the high performance, power efficiency, and multi-tasking mini PC - LIVA One H610. It's powerful, multi-functional, and adopts to support Intel 12th Gen Processors with LGA1700 Socket to fulfill daily computing purposes. It sports up to 64 GB DDR4 dual-channel memory technology and is expansion-friendly through the M.2 socket to meet all sorts of needs.

The LIVA one H610 supports up to three different outputs including HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA, and reaches up to 4K high-quality resolution. It is a good fit for all-around scenarios like corporate offices, specific businesses, individual studios, homes, and so on due to its expandable and diversified possibilities. With TPM support, LIVA One H610 is ideal for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs),it helps keep PCs secure by offering hardware-level protection against malware and sophisticated cyberattacks.

Peratech, a leading innovator in tactile-based user interfaces for high-performance electronics, has announced that its full-range, force-sensing technology will be in the latest Lenovo Legion 7i and 7 (16", 7) gaming laptops' W-A-S-D keys. Integrated into Lenovo Legion's high-performance premium gaming laptops, Peratech's Force Keyboard and Hydra user interface software deliver a more immersive, engaging gaming experience.

Unlike other gaming laptops that have added force function to the W, A, S, D keys, Peratech's full-analog response enables players to engage with games on a much more intuitive, physical level by extending the simple on/off switch of a standard key to unleash the full range of force in real-world interaction. Jim Thomas, Peratech CCO shared, "Imagine driving down your local highway and your accelerator is restricted to just 2 options, 'off' or 'full speed.' Reality-based physics calls for acceleration dependent on how hard you press on the gas pedal, or how hard you turn the steering wheel. This is the difference Peratech intelligent tactile sensing makes."