(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Alongside a host of ThinkPad laptops and some exciting rollable-screen machines, Lenovo showed off some eye-catching desktops for CES 2026, all based on Intel's new "Panther Lake" CPUs. At a private briefing before the show, I grabbed a close look at the Yoga AIO i Aura Edition and ThinkCentre X AIO Aura Edition, two all-in-one PCs (AIOs) that both play with traditional physical design and functionality. I also checked out the Yoga Mini i, a super-compact, circular mini PC.
Alongside high-end fundamentals like a large, 4K OLED display, the Yoga AIO introduces a translucent light bar along its bottom edge that shows adaptive lighting to match your screen content. The ThinkCentre X, meanwhile, is obviously different simply for its screen shape: It's built around a vertically oriented, nearly square (16:18 aspect ratio) display that looks like it'll be a treat for certain professionals. The Yoga Mini i is more self-explanatory, with enough speed, ports, and features for proper productivity, while fitting into a case shaped a small tub of margarine.
Yoga AIO i Aura Edition: Light It Up
We don’t see as many new AIOs hit the market these days as other PC classes, so seeing one with the latest parts and a dazzling screen is exciting in its own right. At its component level, this is a high-end system meant for professional and home creatives. The Yoga AIO i Aura Edition will launch in Q2 of 2026, starting at $2,399.99.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)This AIO features a 31.5-inch 4K (2160p) OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, which is sweet for virtually any type of user. It’s also an AI-ready Copilot+ PC, thanks to its fresh Intel silicon. Inside, you’ll find a Core Ultra X7 358H processor, 32GB of LPDDR5x memory, and up to 2TB of PCIe solid-state storage. (The AIO also features a Wi-Fi 7 radio for top-end wireless speeds.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)In summary, that’s a snazzy AIO—but it’s nothing that would separate it from most other premium options on the market. It’s the chassis' bottom RGB LED light bar that caught our eye; it's a beam that runs across the bottom of the display as one of its "legs," so to speak. The lower portion of the AIO, located under the screen, is a large piece of translucent plastic, through which the light bar shines.
Since the lower panel is clear, the light has a floating effect, appearing to hang off the bottom of the screen. It changes color, but the changes are not random. First, the bar emits adaptive lighting to better immerse the user in what is being displayed on the panel, much like some high-end TV backlights do. This adaptive light can sync with on-screen video content to coordinate the ambient environment with the display, without shining directly in your eyes.
Additionally, it works as a notification system. The lighting can change color or flash to alert the user to new messages or other prompts, without interrupting the on-screen flow or inundating you with dreaded pop-ups. This feature is far from an essential function, of course, but these are the types of workflow add-ons that some shoppers look for in a new system, which can separate one option from the rest.
Finally, Lenovo's minimalist design includes a hidden USB adapter for a wireless keyboard and mouse, and an electronic shutter for its built-in 16-megapixel camera (supporting facial recognition). The system houses a headphone jack, an HDMI port, two USB Type-A ports, and three USB-C connections (one with Thunderbolt 4 support).
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)We’ll have to get more hands on time with the system (and bench-test it) to deliver a more decisive verdict on the usefulness and customization options of the light bar, so stay tuned later this year for more coverage.
ThinkCentre X AIO Aura Edition: Be a Square
The ThinkCentre X AIO is a more practical design. This desktop features a roughly portrait-format 27.6-inch screen with an almost-square aspect ratio of 16:18.
Recommended by Our Editors
For some shoppers, their eyes will light up at the potential benefits for specific workflows. Others may not see the advantage based on how they tend to use their PC, but flipping a primary or secondary monitor vertically to support certain documents or applications has been a go-to method for many years. Today, this is common among programmers who want to view multiple lines of code simultaneously. Still, creators, office workers, and data professionals all have reasons to orient their monitors vertically.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)At 27.6 inches and featuring a unique 2,560-by-2,880-pixel native resolution, this ThinkCentre provides lots of panel room to work with. That's a sizable raw pixel count, too, and if the layout appeals to you for workflow reasons, you’re not likely to need a second monitor in addition to this.
However, because of the nearly square 16:18 aspect ratio, it's not the traditional widescreen format you're use to—it's still close to square, just a bit wider than the vertical orientation. With all of these options, consider it a one-stop shop for computing and monitor needs in specific professional fields.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)To that end, Lenovo also considered those who frequently need to work with a laptop. This AIO includes a feature called Share Zone, which splits the screen in half horizontally to show the AIO’s output on one section and a connected laptop’s output on another. This clever feature transforms the system into a partial monitor, without sacrificing its own interface space entirely. This technique could be hugely helpful to many professionals who need to frequently work between laptop and desktop systems.
Inside, the ThinkCentre X AIO is also powered by Intel Core Ultra X7 Series 3 processors and up to 64GB of memory. That should be enough power for real productivity. It includes built-in speakers, Wi-Fi 7, three USB Type-C ports (one with Thunderbolt support), three USB Type-A ports, and an HDMI connection. Lenovo also offers an optional “smart AI” camera that allows users to scan and digitize physical documents directly onto their PC.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)We look forward to spending more time with this system when units become available; however, no pricing or launch date is currently available. Check back to PCMag later this year for our full review.
Yoga Mini i: A Space-Saving Solution
Lenovo's new mini PC requires the least explanation of the three, as it's hardly the company's first foray into a compact system. The Yoga Mini's design sets it apart from more professional-looking mini desktops, featuring a silver all-aluminum sliced-off cylinder that bears more resemblance to Apple's Mac mini styling than Lenovo's other desktops.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)It's a 0.65L chassis that weighs just 1.32 pounds, so it won't take up much space and won't be a burden if you need to transport it beyond the tight confines of your desk. It includes integrated speakers and microphones, a touch sensor for some smart media-sharing features, and built-in Wi-Fi 7. The Yoga Mini even includes sensors in the chassis that detect disturbances in the Wi-Fi signals it receives, caused by large physical objects or people, triggering automated wake-up similar to what an IR webcam would do on a laptop.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Like the other systems, the Yoga Mini i includes up to an Intel Core Ultra X7 chip, plus up to 32GB of memory and up to 2TB of M.2 storage. The small PC includes two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, two more USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2 ports (one is used for power), a USB Type-A port, an HDMI input, and an Ethernet jack.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The Yoga Mini i will launch in June, starting at $699.99. Check back around that time for a full review of this system.