Enterprise computer systems are sometimes the ugly ducklings of the PC world, seen as boring, sluggish and fewer feature-rich than their shopper counterparts. However distributors finally week’s Shopper Electronics Present launched a number of enterprise machines (alongside their shopper choices) hoping to capitalize on the rise of generative AI (genAI).
Regardless of the deal with AI PCs or Copilot+ PCs, analysts stated the distributors may be a bit forward of the market.
“I liken it to the dot.com period,” stated Tom Butler, govt director of portfolio and product administration for Lenovo’s worldwide business pocket book enterprise. “…When the dot.com period kicked off, firms instantly stated, ‘I would like a dot.com occasion.’ …So, it’s very very like that proper now. Corporations, as we transfer into this AI PC period, [say] ‘I would like an AI PC.’”
Right here’s a take a look at a number of the noteworthy enterprise PCs introduced at CES 2025 and evaluation of whether or not distributors are hitting the mark for enterprise clients.
Asus
Along with its Zenbook and Republic of Avid gamers (ROG) choices, Asus unveiled the enterprise-focused ExpertBook B5, ExpertBook B3, ExpertCenter P400 AiO, and ExpertCenter P500. Though they’re not Copilot+ PCs (their neural processing unit (NPU) isn’t highly effective sufficient), they qualify as AI PCs; each B5 and B3 laptops embody Intel vPro for manageability and have handed the MIL-STD 810H sturdiness assessments. Neither is tremendous gentle, tipping the scales at about 3 kilos.
The B5 helps as much as 64GB of RAM and as much as a 2TB SSD with RAID help, has an all-metal design, 16-in. display, and safety features together with a fingerprint reader, facial recognition, and a sensible card reader.
The B3 has both a 14-in. or 16-in. show, helps as much as 64GB of RAM and as much as 1TB storage in twin SSDs. And it gives a wide range of ports — USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and even an Ethernet port. (The B5 lacks Ethernet, until you’ve a USB dongle.)
On the desktop facet, the ExpertCenter AiO (all-in-one) is available in two fashions, one with a 27-in. show, the opposite with a 24-in. display. The P500 is a mini tower supporting as much as 64GB of RAM and as much as 4TB storage on one SSD and one onerous drive.
Dell
Whereas Dell’s rebranding plans, introduced at CES, may be a bit perplexing, the corporate did introduce a number of new Dell Professional fashions “designed for professional-grade productiveness.” They arrive in a number of flavors: Base, Plus, and Premium, and all qualify as Copilot+ PCs, based mostly on their specs.
On the Base degree, there are the Dell Professional 14 and Dell Professional 16, designed to “ship important efficiency for on a regular basis productiveness,” Dell stated. They characteristic Intel Core Extremely 5 processors, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and display decision of 1920×1200 pixels.
The corporate additionally introduced Dell Professional desktops, powered by both Intel or AMD processors, obtainable in micro, slim, and tower type components. They’re, Dell stated, the corporate’s first business desktops with NPUs.
One step up are the Dell Professional 13/14/16 Plus, with as much as 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. They arrive in laptop computer or 2-in-1 type components and use the identical system BIOS to make ordering and administration simpler for IT departments. Dell claims as much as 18.2 hours of battery life for the Professional 14 Plus, and 12.6 hours for the Professional 16 Plus.
On the high of the heap are the Dell Professional 13/14 Premium fashions. They’re the slimmest and lightest member sof the Professional portfolio, beginning at 2.36 kilos. The Dell Professional 13 Premium gives as much as 20.8 hours of battery life; the Professional 14 Premium gives as much as 21.2 hours. Every could be ordered with an Intel Core Extremely 7 processor, as much as 32GB RAM and as much as 1TB of storage.
HP
HP’s EliteBook line expanded with the corporate’s announcement of a trio of Copilot+ PCs. The HP EliteBook Extremely G1i Subsequent Gen AI PC is, HP stated, designed for executives, with its 14-in. UWVA OLED display on the Intel-powered mannequin. (The Qualcomm mannequin gives WLED display know-how.) They will have as much as 32GB of RAM and as much as 2TB of storage for the Intel model, or 1TB of storage for the Qualcomm model. HP touted “studio high quality” microphones and a 9-megapixel digicam for top of the range video calls.
The HP EliteBook X Flip G1i Subsequent Gen AI PC has a number of use modes, together with laptop computer, pill, and tent configurations, with as much as 32GB of RAM and as much as 2TB of storage. Just like the Extremely G1i, it has a 14-in. display, though contact comes customary (it’s an possibility on the G1i) and it’s a WLED show, not OLED.
The HP EliteBook X G1i Subsequent Gen AI PC is powered by both Intel or AMD chips. The Intel mannequin can maintain as much as 32GB of RAM; the AMD model gives as much as 64GB. Each fashions can have as much as 2TB of storage.
The EliteBook X machines will likely be obtainable in March, with HP saying solely that the Extremely G1i is “coming quickly.”
Lenovo
Lenovo launched a formidable array of gadgets, and the 2 fashions particularly aimed toward companies each contained surprises.
The ThinkPad X9 14- and 15-in. Aura Editions are modern, skinny and light-weight notebooks examined to satisfy MIL-SPEC 810H requirements. Lenovo claims all-day battery life,and says the machines are designed to permit straightforward servicing of the battery and SSD. They provide as much as 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
One factor, nonetheless, is lacking: the X9 is the primary ThinkPad to forego the trackstick. Lenovo hastened to notice that it’s only for this mannequin — different ThinkPads will proceed to have the trademark crimson nub in the midst of their keyboards.
Two years in the past, Lenovo showcased a laptop computer idea with a rollable display; this 12 months, that idea turned a actuality. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable’s 14-in display expands upwards on the contact of a button, rising to 16.7 inches and offering 50% extra display house. As with the opposite new fashions, it gives as much as 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
It’s not a budget-friendly system, although; costs begin at $3,500.
AI a gimmick?
As for whether or not these methods meet enterprise wants, analysts weighed in on what they’re seeing within the present PC market — and so they had been considerably dismissive of the AI hype.
“Present AI options are over-hyped and largely invisible or are seen as ‘that’s good to have’ to enterprise until the customers are proactive find extra detailed options,” stated Ranjit Atwal, senior director analyst at Gartner. “All in all, companies are unlikely to pay greater than 5% above regular costs for an AI PC.”
“I feel the AI laptops are a gimmick for probably the most half, efforts by the OEMs to remain related and bottle lightning if they will,” stated Jeremy Roberts, senior analysis director at Data-Tech Analysis Group. “I’ve but to have any of my enterprise or mid-market shoppers profess to be excited or inform me they’re altering their refresh cycle or something to include AI options on the PC degree.”
IDC’s Ryan Reith, group vice chairman, Worldwide Gadget Trackers, stated he noticed some curiosity in AI PCs early in 2024, however famous it has since waned.
“What we gathered all through most of final 12 months, particularly across the center of the 12 months, is that giant enterprises and most developed markets world wide had been allocating finances for these genAI PCs,” Reith stated. That enthusiasm declined within the second a part of 2024 amid issues that Microsoft and its companions had not delivered on expectations.
What’s vital to enterprises
In line with Roberts, genAI options haven’t excited the enterprises he offers with. “Issues that excite enterprises are Autopilot compatibility for seamless deployment, TPM chips for encryption, specialised screens to restrict viewing angles, decently highly effective CPUs/GPUs relying on the use case, and repairability,” he stated.
“I don’t suppose AI options even make the highest 10,” Roberts stated. “Most organizations received’t be consuming AI options regionally anyway — they’ll use cloud providers like CoPilot or Gemini.”
Reith cited suggestions from the pinnacle of economic gross sales for a big OEM who stated with tightened budgets and uncertainly about what could be achieved with genAI PCs, firms are shifting their spending to mid-range computer systems. They don’t qualify as Copilot+ gadgets, however are nonetheless superb PCs.
“In case you get 200 PCs at a mainstream degree, versus 50 at a premium degree, they’re going extra in direction of the 200,” he stated.
Roberts agreed: “Trendy laptops are typically greater than able to dealing with the everyday information employee’s day-to-day. A Dell Latitude 5000 or 7000 (Dell Professional now?) collection or a run-of-the-mill ThinkPad from Lenovo received’t wrestle with Slack, Groups, or PowerPoint.”
As for what company customers need, measurement and weight are sometimes key, Reith stated — and corporations are actually listening to their staff moderately than selecting what they suppose they need.
“The skinny and light-weight PCs are the pattern,” Atwal stated, including, “companies basically wish to future proof their PCs with AI capabilities so [want to] have them embody an NPU.”
Lenovo’s Butler stated the configuration candy spot has shifted; it’s now 32GB of reminiscence and a minimal 512GB of storage. And display sizes have edged up.
“Most enterprise laptops are within the 14- to 16-in. vary,” stated Roberts. “Something smaller is sort of cramped. Something bigger could be cumbersome to lug round — to not point out dearer.”
Whither AI PCs, then?
Reith and Roberts differ on the destiny of the AI PC/Copilot+ PC.
“AI PCs are an answer in search of an issue,” Roberts argued. “Most finish consumer computing managers received’t be swayed by this branding and extra characteristic set. … AI will proceed to be delivered primarily by way of the cloud. I count on the CoPilot+ PC will go the best way of the Ultrabook: branding hooked up to computer systems which can be solely marginally related to the individuals who purchase and use them.”
Reith, nonetheless, believes it’s extra a difficulty of timing. “There’s a necessity to have on-device AI,” he stated. “It’s simply getting pushed ahead just a little bit to when that inflection level actually begins to kick in.
“…I’m making an attempt to make use of my phrases cautiously, as a result of we don’t imagine that that is lifeless within the water. It was a very good probability that then handed. It’s simply that the timing was actually unhealthy, which nobody may have predicted. … However no person’s actually backing off of the developments. Provide facet is now simply shifting a few of their enterprise plans round merchandise.
“…No matter we thought was going to be the genAI PC quantity in 2025, it’ll be barely lower than that, in our opinion,” Reith stated. “However loads of that may simply get pushed ahead to a ramp up that’s possibly extra in direction of the tip of this 12 months, and positively into 2026.”
