Sophie Thibault (Lenovo): “PC gamers are increasingly favoring laptops over desktop computers”

Leaders League: The RAM crisis, the shifting geopolitical landscape and macroeconomic trends mean that PC makers are constantly having to adjust their strategies. How is Lenovo adapting?
Sophie Thibault: The current period presents unprecedented challenges. To stay ahead, we are leveraging our supply chain in particular, which ranked 8th in the 2025 Gartner Top 25. Our hybrid production model includes around thirty of our factories and ODMs (original design manufacturers) across 11 countries, including China, Argentina and Hungary. We have also begun construction of a new plant in Saudi Arabia, scheduled to open at the end of 2026, to supply the EMEA region with desktops, laptops and servers.

For several years, Lenovo has been transitioning toward a greater focus on services – such as consulting and infrastructure – complementing its historical positioning in hardware. This shift is supported by a program designed to help our employees adapt to this transformation.  

How does Lenovo harness innovation to maintain its leading position in the PC market?
As far as I’m concerned, Lenovo is currently the most innovative PC manufacturer in the world. As proof of this, I would point to the fact that we showcased more than 60 innovations at CES 2026. Among them, the prototype of our ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept, whose screen expands vertically from 13.3 to 15.9 inches.

Another example is the latest in our Legion Pro line of gaming PCs, which taps into a growing trend which has seen gamers increasingly favor laptops over traditional desktops. This model features an expandable display that stretches from 16 to 24 inches, delivering the comfort and immersion of a desktop setup in a portable format.

Lenovo showcased more than 60 innovations at CES 2026

At the FIFA World Cup, we are also pushing the boundaries of innovation with virtual reality experiences and 3D avatars, giving fans a fully immersive and unprecedented view of the action by experiencing, for example, the game through the referee’s eyes.

Beyond our leadership position in PCs, we are strengthening our infrastructure services with the ambition of becoming the market leader.
We are also accelerating in artificial intelligence by deploying solutions tailored to all audiences – from end consumers to large enterprises. Each of these innovations is made possible thanks to our network of eighteen R&D centers, including three in Europe, located in Budapest, Stuttgart and Bucharest.

AI is fundamentally reshaping the IT market. What do you offer in this area?
We provide use cases for our entire ecosystem. Generally speaking, large CAC 40 companies have a clear roadmap, while SMEs need guidance. We offer a comprehensive portfolio to support these projects, including hardware and software solutions for deploying AI, as well as edge computing, hybrid cloud and high-performance computing offerings. We have also launched a collaboration program with independent software vendors to provide ready-to-deploy vertical AI solutions. Our consulting teams round out the picture.

Agentic AI is on everyone’s lips as a way to automate tasks in the workplace. At the beginning of the year, we launched Qira, an AI assistant for Lenovo and Motorola devices. Motorola, a Lenovo brand, also unveiled Project Maxwell, an AI wearable designed as an alternative to the smartphone and incorporating our advanced agent.

Another innovation is ultra-light glasses weighing just 45 grams, which can translate written or spoken content in real time. Amid this surge of AI innovations, some may seem intrusive, yet they address a real demand.