I hate it when my laptop battery runs out, especially when I’m on the go. That’s why Lenovo’s innovative solar-powered concept laptop was one of the most interesting pieces of tech I saw at MWC 2025.
Lenovo Showcases Its Solar Powered Laptop Concept at MWC 2025
I’m sure your eyes are already rolling. Solar-powered hardware has been promised so many times over that at this point, most folks turn a blind eye; I’m among them.
But Lenovo’s Yoga Solar PC has pushed this tech into an exciting new area, where your high-performance laptop can actually use enough solar power to keep charged for long periods.
It features a photovoltaic laptop lid with 84 solar cells that convert light into energy. Lenovo reckon it has a 24% conversion rate, which is frankly amazing—that’s similar to some regular solar cells. This, on your laptop.
Lenovo states that its solar-powered laptop can pick up enough power to watch an hour of 1080p video in around 20 minutes of sunlight. This is wild on its own, but the solar-powered Yoga can also pick up charge from just 0.3 watts of ambient lighting. So, even on a gloomy day, your laptop will continue to charge.
The laptop has a solar tracking system measuring voltage, current, and solar conversion, automatically adjusting the battery and charger settings depending on light levels. It’s pretty swish, it has to be said.
Lenovo’s Yoga Solar PC Isn’t Just a Gimmick
With all that solar tech, you’re probably wondering if this laptop is worth using otherwise. Well, yes, it is.
Lenovo has specced the solar-powered Yoga with an Intel Core Ultra 200 CPU, up to 32GB RAM, 1TB storage, a 50.2Wh battery, three USB-C ports, and a 14-inch OLED.
It also doesn’t weigh a great deal, tipping the scales at 2.29 lbs.
My biggest worry about a laptop featuring solar cells in its lid is durability. Solar panels aren’t exactly durable, and we all know laptops take a tumble here and there. Protecting the solar cells from damage during day-to-day use may be difficult, especially as you’re effectively using a laptop with a glass lid to maximize the solar efficiency.
The other issue is likely to be cost. Although this is a concept, it feels real enough. However, producing a laptop with decently high specsanda small solar array on its lid is not cheap.
Either way, this is a great idea and one that could see its way into full production in the future—once the kinds are worked out.
