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| The IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 11 is only available as a 14-inch laptop for now. |
A few months have now passed since Lenovo unveiled its latest IdeaPad Pro 5i. Presented in January during CES 2026, the Gen 11 generation swaps Intel's Arrow Lake platform for Panther Lake successors. Incidentally, Lenovo has since released equivalent IdeaPad Pro 5a Gen 11 laptops featuring AMD's Gorgon Point platform.
During CES 2026, Lenovo claimed that the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 11 would be configurable with up to the Core Ultra X9 388H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU. Also, it stated that the range would include 14-inch and 16-inch variants. Unfortunately, none of that is true with Lenovo's initial IdeaPad Pro 5i offering.
What's Actually Available?
Instead, only a 14-inch variant has made its way to the likes of Australia, the Eurozone and the United Kingdom for the time being. Not only that, but Lenovo equips the IdeaPad Pro 5i with a Core Ultra 7 356H processor. While this processor contains the same 4 P-cores, 8 E-cores and 4 LP E-Cores as the Core Ultra X9 388H, these are clocked significantly lower and are limited to Intel's relatively weak 4-core Xe3 iGPU rather than its Arc B390 equivalent.
The IdeaPad Pro 5i only comes with 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533 RAM, 1 TB of M.2 2242 storage and a 92.5 Wh battery, too. Likewise, Lenovo includes a 2.8K OLED non-touch display as the laptop's only display option, which also delivers a 120 Hz refresh rate with 500 nits SDR brightness similar to the panel found in last year's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition that impressed us during our review (curr. $1,849 on Amazon).
Display Excellence Remains
That display is arguably the laptop's standout feature. The 14-inch 2.8K OLED panel delivers rich blacks and vibrant colors that content creators will appreciate. With HDR True Black 1000 support and peak brightness reaching up to 1100 nits, it's a screen that performs admirably in varied lighting conditions. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides extra vertical workspace, and the slim bezels create an immersive viewing experience.
Lenovo offers Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7-capable modems, too, giving buyers flexibility in their wireless connectivity choices. The laptop also features a solid aluminum chassis with MIL-STD-810H durability certification, suggesting it can withstand the rigors of daily travel.
Pricing and Availability
Lenovo has priced this configuration at AUD 2,829, €1,699 and £1,500 (~$1,666) with deliveries set for March 31. For those interested in purchasing, you can check availability through Lenovo's regional stores:The Bottom Line
While the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 11 delivers a premium OLED display and solid build quality, prospective buyers should temper their expectations regarding processor performance and graphics capabilities. The absence of the promised Core Ultra X9 388H, RTX 5060 graphics, and 16-inch variant means this launch represents a significant departure from what Lenovo originally showcased. Whether the AMD-powered IdeaPad Pro 5a Gen 11 variants will offer more of what was promised remains to be seen.
For now, professionals seeking a portable workstation with an excellent screen may find value here, but those holding out for the CES promises may want to wait for future configurations.
What are your thoughts on Lenovo's scaled-back launch? Would you still consider the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 11 for your workflow?
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| Lenovo offers Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7-capable modems, too. |
