CES 2026: Lenovo is making its twisting concept laptop a reality

[UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL JAN 6 AT 8PM ET/5PM PT]

Lenovo’s voice-activated rotating laptop is officially hitting the market later this year, and Mashable got to use it at CES 2026. The PC giant still has one more problem to solve before it lands in consumers’ hands this summer, but overall the device is fun and constructive. twist on the 2-in-1 form factor.

Announced on Tuesday, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist is a unique hybrid business PC featuring a 14-inch swiveling touchscreen that rotates on a motorized hinge. The user can open, close and reposition its lid manually or by saying “Hey Tiko” followed by a voice command. If necessary, you can switch between clamshell and tablet modes without lifting a finger. The screen can rotate 90 degrees to the right and 180 degrees to the left.

Do the twist.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Auto Twist has other fun tricks up its sleeve. Its 10MP webcam can track your face, and if you move too far to one side of the frame, the device will automatically adjust the position of its screen to make sure it’s always facing you. This looks perfect for presentations.

Additionally, the Auto Twist’s webcam supports an AI-powered “Desk View” feature that allows it to look around and scan nearby objects. A Lenovo representative had it detect a spec card lying next to it; the device’s lid rotated so the camera could find and scan its contents. It also listed the dimensions and price of the spiral notebook I was holding in front of it. (Six by eight inches, $5 to $10, depending on university rules.)

Hey, chat.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Starting the Auto Twist’s “Companion Mode” places a pair of eyes on his screen that reminded me of a minimalist Nick Jr. “face.” When you chat with him, the position of the screen changes as he “thinks” and “moves.” Necessary? No. Cute ? Somehow!

I encountered a problem whenever I manually rotated the Auto Twist’s screen from tablet mode, which would cause its image to be stuck upside down. A Lenovo rep was able to redirect it in the settings menu, but hopefully a fix will be available in pre-release.

LEFT:
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

RIGHT:
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Auto Twist initially debuted as a prototype at the IFA show in September 2024. Lenovo says the market-ready version features a faster, quieter, smoother and more durable hinge with a refined electric motor design. It’s also been upgraded with a nicer 2.8K OLED display.

The Auto Twist is powered by an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor with integrated Intel graphics, up to 32 GB of memory and up to 2 TB of storage. Its OLED screen has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and 500 nits of brightness. Its Dolby Atmos speakers rotate with the screen so they always face forward, ensuring clear audio quality.

Super stylish.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Auto Twist hasn’t been rated for battery life, but Lenovo notes in a press release that its 75Wh battery “provides long-lasting productivity.”

The device is equipped with a good mix of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. It measures 0.63 to 0.94 inches thick and starts at 3.09 pounds. It comes in a Luna Gray finish and is expected to release in June with a base cost of $1,649.

You know you twist so well.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Auto Twist marks Lenovo’s third crack at a laptop with a rotating screen after 2012’s ThinkPad Twist and 2023’s ThinkPad Plus Twist. The latter was more original in that it had a second e-ink touchscreen on the back of its lid, although neither of the two older devices supported voice commands, giving the Auto Twist an advantage from an accessibility standpoint.

The Auto Twist should not be confused with Lenovo’s ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept from IFA 2025, which had a screen that rotated from landscape to portrait mode similar to a Samsung Sero TV. Lenovo communications manager Jeff Witt told me via email that it’s still just a concept — for now. “Give us time,” he said.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 Hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest tech show, where Mashable journalists report live.