Lenovo unveiled two new ultraportable devices with its latest LaVie Z series that are "lighter than air," as the company claims.
Device manufacturers have been focusing on portability for a good while now and 13-inch laptops and hybrids are already impressively thin and light, but Lenovo aims to take things to the next level. At CES 2015 in Las Vegas, the company introduced a new LaVie Z HZ550 13-inch clamshell laptop that weighs just 1.72 pounds (0.7 kg) and a 13-inch hybrid device called the LaVie Z HZ750, which weighs in at 2.04 pounds (0.9 kg).
The new LaVie Z series is the result of a partnership between Lenovo and NEC, as the two companies have teamed up in 2011 to design and sell NEC-branded PCs. That initiative was targeted exclusively at Japan, but the new LaVie Z series now has broader horizons, marking the first time products stemming from this collaboration will be available outside Japan.
Both new LaVie Z devices are impressively light thanks to their material build, as they sport a magnesium-lithium chassis. According to Lenovo, this material is 50 percent lighter than aluminum, while delivering just as much resistance as other magnesium alloy materials.
"Not only lightweight, both models of the LaVie Z are extremely thin, measuring just 16.9 mm. Despite their record light weight and incredible thinness, they're also unbelievably strong. Both machines use a specialized magnesium-lithium (Mg-Li) body construction along with specialized technologies including a Magnesium Lithium alloy cover. The materials are 50 percent lighter than aluminum and as strong as any heavier typical Magnesium alloy laptop materials resulting in unsurpassed quality engineering. The HZ750 also has a direct bonded touchscreen that uses a film instead of cover glass," Lenovo touted in the press release.
Both LaVie Z models boast 2,560 x 1,400 resolution and pack processors from Intel's new fifth-generation Core I series called Broadwell. The LaVie Z HZ550, i.e. the laptop model, comes with a Core i5 processor under the hood, while the LaVie Z HZ750, i.e. the hybrid version, can go up to a Core i7 CPU. Both models come with 128GB of SSD storage as standard.
In terms of design, the HZ750 model is very similar to Lenovo's Yoga devices, folding back into a tablet shape for more convenience when needed. The HZ550 clamshell laptop, meanwhile, opens a full 180 degrees. The hybrid HZ750 will offer a 44WHr battery, while the HZ550 laptop will come with a less powerful 29.6WHr unit.
Lastly, when it comes to prices and availability, the HZ550 laptop will start at $1,299 and the hybrid HZ750 will start at $1,499. Both models are set to hit commercial availability in the U.S. in May. Lenovo has yet to announce pricing and availability details for other international markets, but will provide additional information at a later date.
