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| The IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 11 retains a numberpad and full-size arrow keys. |
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Lenovo’s laptop lineup this year, you might have noticed something strange happening with the rollout of the IdeaPad Pro 5i. The company has officially begun shipping the latest generation across North America, but if you were expecting the same sleek, graphics-free 14-inch model that launched in Europe and Australia a few weeks ago, you’re in for a surprise.
In a move that highlights just how fragmented the laptop market has become, Lenovo is offering a drastically different configuration for customers in the United States and Canada compared to their counterparts across the pond.
A Tale of Two Laptops
When Lenovo initially kicked off the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 11 series in Europe and Australia, the focus was on portability. Those markets received a 14-inch variant that prioritized a lightweight chassis over raw graphical horsepower—specifically, a version lacking discrete graphics.
North America, however, is playing a different game entirely. Here, Lenovo has skipped the 14-inch entry point (for now) and launched the 16-inch IdeaPad Pro 5i (16IPH11) . This isn’t just a screen-size bump; it’s a full-on performance machine.
The headline feature is the inclusion of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 GPU with 105 W of Total Graphics Power (TGP). This matches the power envelope of last year’s model, ensuring that creators and gamers in the US and Canada aren’t sacrificing performance for portability.
Interestingly, for those hoping for the newer RTX 5060 that was teased during CES 2026 in January, you’ll have to look to Australia. Lenovo is offering the upgraded GPU there, but it comes at a staggering premium—adding a AUD 10,098.90 (roughly $6,945) surcharge to the configuration.
Pricing and Specs: Power Meets OLED
So, what exactly are you getting for your money in North America? The base model of the IdeaPad Pro 5i 16-inch starts at $2,449.99 in the US and CAD 3,399.99 in Canada. For that price, Lenovo is offering a well-balanced spec sheet designed for heavy multitasking and content creation.
The default configuration includes:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (with an option to upgrade to the Core Ultra 9 386H).
- Memory: 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 RAM—plenty for video editing and running intensive applications.
- Storage: 1 TB M.2 2242 SSD.
- Battery: An 84 Wh unit supporting 170 W charging.
- Display: This is where the laptop shines. It features a 2.8K OLED non-touch panel that peaks at 120 Hz refresh rate, with 500 nits of SDR brightness and a stunning 1,000 nits of HDR brightness.
Future Configurations and Where to Buy
Lenovo isn’t stopping with these initial specs. The company has indicated that eventually, the IdeaPad Pro 5i will see configuration options for the more powerful Core Ultra X9 388H processor, alongside a massive 99 Wh battery upgrade for those needing maximum longevity on the go. A touchscreen variant is also available if you opt for the Core Ultra 9 processor upgrade.
If you are interested in picking one up or comparing the regional differences, Lenovo has set up dedicated storefronts for each region. You can check out the full technical specifications and ordering options here:
- For Australian customers (where the 14-inch and 16-inch models vary significantly), you can view the local lineup at Lenovo Australia .
- For Canadian customers, the 16-inch model is available at Lenovo Canada .
- For US customers, you can configure your own at Lenovo United States .
If you are curious about how the new Intel “Panther Lake” architecture inside these new chips performs compared to previous generations, you can also check out our detailed breakdown over at LaptopsCheck , where we dive into the benchmark records this new silicon is breaking.
For those who loved last year’s iteration of the IdeaPad Pro and don’t need the latest Gen 11 upgrade, you can still find the previous model in stock at retailers like Amazon , often with significant discounts as inventory clears out.
With the inclusion of the RTX 5050 and a stunning 2.8K OLED screen, the North American variant of the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 11 is shaping up to be one of the most versatile 16-inch creator laptops on the market—provided you’re willing to pay the premium for that discrete graphics power.
