Lenovo caused a stir at this year's Mobile World Congress by unveiling a laptop concept with integrated solar panels for charging that's as practical as it is environmentally friendly.
At MWC 2025, which runs until March 6 in Barcelona, Lenovo is showcasing the Yoga Solar PC concept, a laptop that, as its name suggests, has solar panels on its lid. This ingenious design allows the device to recharge using solar energy, providing an environmentally friendly and practical solution for users on the move.
The Yoga Solar PC proof of concept is equipped with advanced Back Contact Cell technology, which optimizes the absorption of solar energy even in low-light conditions. Thanks to an energy conversion rate of over 24%, this laptop can, according to Lenovo, obtain an additional hour of video playback time after only 20 minutes of exposure to sun. A dedicated application allows users to monitor the device's energy absorption in real time, for better management of its battery life. Otherwise, it is a conventional 14in notebook computer.
The integration of solar panels into a laptop represents a significant advance for the autonomy of these devices, responding to the growing needs of users on the move.
However, Lenovo has not announced a date for the commercial release of this proof of concept device, leaving doubts as to the possible mass production of such a laptop.
The world's biggest PC seller is also taking advantage of the event to present another particularly innovative concept, the ThinkBook Flip. This spectacular laptop has a flexible OLED screen that can be folded outwards, transforming a 13.1in laptop into an 18.1in vertical screen. This design offers a smooth transition between different working modes, such as traditional laptop mode, tablet mode and reading mode.
In addition, the ThinkBook Flip incorporates a multitude of features boosted by artificial intelligence to improve productivity. Again, Lenovo has not specified whether this concept will give rise to a production model available in the near future. – AFP Relaxnews
