LAS VEGAS -- Lenovo is making waves at CES 2026 with a range of innovative devices, but one feature stands out for creative professionals: the Yoga 9i Pro's touchpad, which now doubles as a drawing surface using its new ForcePad technology. This marks a significant step in blurring the lines between traditional laptops and creative tablets. The announcement has generated considerable buzz among artists and designers attending the show.

ForcePad: A Touchpad Evolved

The integration of ForcePad technology into the Yoga 9i Pro represents a significant upgrade. The Verge reports that the included Yoga Pen Gen 2 stylus can be used directly on the touchpad, offering a pressure-sensitive drawing experience. This eliminates the need for a separate graphics tablet for many users, streamlining their workflow and reducing the amount of gear they need to carry. Lenovo is clearly targeting creative professionals who value portability and versatility.

The Yoga Pro 9i itself is a powerhouse, featuring a 16-inch 4K tandem OLED display reaching a dazzling 1,600 nits of peak brightness, according to The Verge. It is powered by Intel's latest Panther Lake processors and can be configured with up to an RTX 5070 GPU. This combination of processing power and a color-accurate display makes it an ideal machine for demanding creative tasks. The Aura Edition starts at $1,899.99 and is expected to launch in Q2 2026.

Lenovo's Broader CES Innovations

Beyond the Yoga 9i Pro, Lenovo is showcasing a range of other intriguing concepts and products at CES. These include concept AI glasses, as reported by Android Authority, joining the trend of smart glasses integrating artificial intelligence. Engadget highlights the ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist, a laptop with a motorized pivoting hinge that automatically adjusts its screen position. Lenovo is also pushing the boundaries of display technology with rollable laptops, including the Legion Pro Rollable gaming laptop that expands horizontally to create an ultrawide screen, as noted by The Verge.

Lenovo also unveiled Qira, a cross-device AI assistant for both its computers and Motorola smartphones, as reported by Engadget. Qira aims to provide proactive suggestions, write emails, transcribe meetings, and offer summaries, all while prioritizing on-device processing for privacy. While the utility of yet another AI assistant remains to be seen, Lenovo's commitment to integrating AI across its product lines is evident. "Every aspect of the Lenovo Qira experience is designed to be secure, ethical, and accountable," Lenovo states.

""Every aspect of the Lenovo Qira experience is designed to be secure, ethical, and accountable," Lenovo states."

— Lenovo

Lenovo's innovations at CES 2026 demonstrate a clear focus on pushing the boundaries of laptop design and functionality. The Yoga 9i Pro's ForcePad is a particularly compelling example of how technology can be seamlessly integrated to enhance creative workflows. Whether these concepts will translate into mainstream products remains to be seen, but Lenovo's willingness to experiment positions them as a leader in the evolving landscape of personal computing.