Your next laptop might last longer.
AMD, Intel and Qualcomm each announced new mobile processors at CES 2026 that will power the next generation of laptops this year, promising better CPU performance, greater graphics muscle, improved AI capabilities and longer battery life. These new chips will show up in all manner of laptops, from thin-and-light ultraportables to hulking, high-powered gaming and content creation laptops. We've seen many of these new laptops at CES this week, and a trend has emerged beyond the ubiquitous silicon upgrades: modularity in the name of serviceability and sustainability.
Dell, HP and Lenovo have each announced new laptop designs that make it easier to repair or replace individual components to help extend the lifespan of the product. This approach is a throwback to the days before everything inside a laptop was soldered to the motherboard or otherwise difficult to access and remove, but a welcomed one nonetheless.
These computer makers have heard from the customers -- especially on the enterprise side -- that they want to be able to replace the keyboard, battery and other parts when they break or get too worn out instead of needing to spend a lot more money on a full system replacement. This trend also showed up in the opposite of a business laptop -- a gaming laptop from MSI that's easier to service and upgrade the RAM and SSD.
Watch this: The Laptops Coming This Year From Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP and Acer 09:26
Elsewhere, we saw some compelling new models from Acer and Asus, along with MSI's completely redesigned Prestige. And finally, we've got not a laptop at all but a totally new idea from HP that could replace your laptop.
Keep scrolling to see the laptops that caught our attention at CES so far.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14
Josh Goldman/CNET
The latest X1 Carbon is the best example of the more modular designs we're seeing at CES. It introduces Lenovo's Space Frame design that lets you not only pop off the bottom panel to get to the internals but also the keyboard to reach the double-sided motherboard. Most of the components are easily accessed and replaceable, including the battery, keyboard, fans, speakers -- even the USB ports. (Sadly, the RAM is soldered to the motherboard like most laptops these days and not user-replaceable.)
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